Manchester Christmas Markets produce commemorative shilling currency
Manchester’s Christmas Markets have minted a range of commemorative shillings to celebrate the 15-year anniversary of the continental markets - one of the world's biggest.
Manchester Christmas Markets 15th anniversary memento
The coins, which are worth £2, can be kept as a souvenir or spent at any of the Manchester's Christmas Markets’ 300 stalls.
Over 15,000 shillings have been produced and they can be purchased from stalls or won as competition prizes.
A spokesman for Manchester City Council said: "Manchester Christmas Markets asked our in-house studio to design a £2 commemorative coin to mark the 15th year of the Manchester Christmas Markets.
“The 'Christmas Market Shilling' would be minted and sold as currency or kept as a souvenir. The design is a homage to traditional British coin design and the typography has been carefully considered to reflect the heritage of the Manchester Christmas Markets.
“It is also believed that the idea of a market currency has never been attempted before."
Cllr Pat Karney, Manchester’s Christmas spokesperson, said: “If Manchester is the king of Christmas, then our very own Christmas Markets are they jewel in our crown. I would have the chalets up and open from September if we could.
“They give the city centre a perfectly festive atmosphere with a traditional, festive taste of Europe – and renowned as being the original, biggest and best.”
The markets regularly attract 1.5 million visitors to the Albert Square site – with estimates up to and above seven million visitors across the city.