CHECK your coat pockets and dig down the back of the settee - the old 50p coin goes out of circulation on Saturday.

Royal Mint bosses are urging people to spend the larger, heavier 1969 coin which is being phased out in favour of a smaller, lighter model.

The changeover has prompted charity shops and pubs in York to weed out the old-style coin from donation boxes on their counters.

Jane Dickson, manager of Shelter, at Micklegate, said: "We were aware of the deadline and are dealing with it. If anyone would like to donate their old 50ps we would be pleased to have them!"

Maggie and Howard Reed, of The Minster Inn, at Marygate, upended their two gallon-bottles containing donations for local charities Candlelighters and Juniper House.

Mr Reed said: "They contain everything from pennies to pound coins so we will be looking for any old 50p. Our customers are generous so they soon fill up."

The Royal Mint estimates there is £60 million worth of the old coins languishing in coat pockets, money boxes and purses.

Deputy master Roger Holmes said it was important the public spent their remaining coins.

"As there are still 120 million of the coins in circulation this means they will have to be spent at the rate of 750,000 an hour," he said.

However, banks will still accept old coins after Saturday for several weeks.

The new design is the result of public consultation held in 1994. Among those consulted by the Royal Mint were vending machine manufacturers and the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

RNIB spokesman Richard Lane said: "The great thing about the old 50p was its size. It was distinct from other coins. The only problem with the new 50p is the slightly increased chance of confusion because it is smaller."

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