Historic royals feature on giant chocolate coins in unique celebration | UK | News
King Henry VIII and Queen Victoria were immortalized on a series of chocolate coins. Historical rulers appear on giant 20 cm wide coins, as well as coins of more traditional sizes. Chocolatier Jen Lindsey-Clark was commissioned to create the festive coins using a total of 15kg of chocolate and more than 10g of metallic powder and spray.
To accurately recreate each coin, 3D molds were made and filled with hand-poured chocolate before being placed and decorated. The coin collection, which took a total of 80 hours to create, was created to celebrate the opening of Cash Access UK’s 200th banking center in Billericay, Essex.
Delicious masterpieces appeared, along with pre-Roman slaters, a Roman Denarius, the medieval Henry VI Noble, and today’s two-shilling coin; all of which were used as legal tender in Billericay.
A limited number of standard-sized festive chocolate coins will be distributed to members of the public at the banking center in the Essex town today (December 18) to give members of the public a taste of coins throughout British history.
It comes after a survey of 2,000 adults found 47 per cent said “nothing compares” to the thrill of winning card cash at Christmas.
Alex Conaway, of Cash Access UK, a not-for-profit company that provides cash and banking services to communities across the UK, said: “This research shows that while digital payments play a huge role in modern life, the emotional value of giving and receiving cash, especially at Christmas, is incredibly powerful.
“More than half of those we surveyed said cash at Christmas made them feel nostalgic, with a third even remember receiving a card with coins stuck into it.
“We are here to make access to cash a choice for everyone and we are proud to celebrate this Christmas tradition with the opening of our 200th banking center in Billericay.”
The research also found that 37% feel more connected to loved ones when given a physical gift such as cash, and 34% label bank transfers at Christmas as “the ultimate Grinch move”.
However, this rate, which is also valid for 36% of Generation Y and half of Generation Z, is increasingly being sent to 24% of people in this way instead of receiving an actual gift.
Four in 10 survey respondents said they were more likely to save money given to them rather than spend it.
What’s more, 44% are saving this holiday money as part of their emergency fund; Generation Z does this the most (58%).
The research also found that 46% felt they had more control over their festive spending when using cash; this highlighted the continued need for accessible, community-based banking services.
