Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe LONDON, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- All British coins currently featuring the Britannia will soon be produced without the patriotic symbol after a decision by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The Mail on Sunday said Brown approved the move to take the historical symbol off all British coins as part of a Royal Mint redesign as part of effort to modern all British coins. Advertisement Federal officials reportedly told the British newspaper they did not believe top Treasury officials would support the redesign, but that Brown did sanction the unprecedented move when he took office. Brown's critics say his approval of the coinage plan appears to contradict his public support of British patriotism. "We constantly see Gordon Brown wrapping himself up in the Union Jack, yet here we find a blatant attempt to erase our history, to allow important symbols to be abolished after 300 years," historian Andrew Roberts said. The newspaper reported the British Treasury department said Saturday that the Britannia could return in future runs of official federal coinage.
