America produces some beautifully designed products. For example: I love my American guitars, and would consider no substitute. But let’s face it. Some things we just don’t do so well.

Case in point: Our redesigned currency isn’t exactly beautiful. But take a look at the new British coinage, which will be gradually put into circulation starting later this year.

The designs are simply stunning. So how were they designed, you ask? Not by a huge government bureaucracy. The new designs are the product of an open design competition started in August 2005, which received over 4000 entries. The winning design was produced by a 26 year old London-based graphic designed named Matthew Dent.

The design theme as a whole is based on the Shield of the Royal Arms. It was a brillaint idea to incorporate this theme throughout the entire set, and showing all the coins together in formation really showcases the holistic design. Really wonderful. It makes me wish we’d done something similar here in the U.S. Whatever the outcome, we certainly would have ended up with designs that were far more creative than the boring, stodgy redesigns we have now.