Last year's winner

As part of our celebration of the anniversary of Decimalisation, the Royal Mint Museum hosted a medal design competition open to all undergraduate university students in the United Kingdom. Students were allowed a free hand to approach the design of a medal inspired by Decimal Day in 1971 and the change to decimal money. The winner was selected by a judging panel comprising Dr Kevin Clancy, Director of The Royal Mint Museum and guest judges Gordon Summers, The Royal Mint Chief Engraver, and Stephen Raw, artist and lettering expert.

The top prize was given to Laura Barnwell, a textile design undergraduate at Norwich University of the Arts, whose winning design was selected to be produced as a bronze medal struck by the Royal Mint. In a special celebration at the Royal Mint Experience at Llantrisant, the artist saw her medal design for the first time, which will now join other medals designed by world-class artists in the Museum’s collection. Laura and her family, from Woodbridge in Suffolk, also enjoyed a VIP tour of the Museum and a special presentation of a prize winning cheque.

Laura Barnwell

"Art, design and painting have been a huge part of my life from a very young age, and this interest has been nurtured over the years through artists and designers in my family before I began to study. I am thrilled to have had my design selected and am exceptionally proud and honoured at this opportunity. My family were as excited as me to see the medal.”