Obverse side of a nominal 2005 counterfeit one-pound coin. This counterfeit was found in the editor's change. There is no evidence to connect it to Marcus Glindon.

The reverse side of the nominal 2005 counterfeit one-pound coin. Click on the image to view a larger one.

A section of the edge of the nominal 2005 counterfeit one-pound coin. Click on the image to view a larger one.

In late December 2007, Marcus Glindon, 37, from Enfield, north London, was gaoled for 5 years for making over 14 million counterfeit one-pound blanks and coins. He made the blanks and coins over a seven-year period; within this time was a two-year period when he did not make any counterfeits. Of the estimated 14 million coin blanks made by Glindon, he struck an estimated two and a half million into coins. The remainder are believed to have been taken elsewhere for coining.

Glindon was arrested after an anonymous tip off. Police raided his home and near by business premises, MG Engineering, in March 2007. As well as counterfeit blanks and coins, they found a blanking press, coining press and coinage dies.

Glindon claimed he worked alone producing blanks and coins for two men he knew as Tom and John. They provided him with the materials required and removed the coins and blanks. At times he appeared to be making up to 10,000 to 12,000 coins per day and was paid about £2,000 per week by the men.

Metropolitan Police Det. Con. Dan Roberts, was quoted by the BBC as saying: "As a result of a collaboration between the police, the Royal Mint and the counterfeit agency at the Serious Organised Crime Agency, we have disrupted a nationwide criminal network and put a substantial dent into the illegal production of £1 coins."

[Sources: BBC News, look for the very informative film report available via this page, "This is London", "Daily Record", editor]

Comment

Viewing the stills of Glindon's workshop in the BBC News film it is possible to identify: a blanking press with narrow strips of brass scissel [scissel is the strip remaining after blanking] and a hydraulic coining press. No equipment able to be used for the manufacture of coining dies could be seen in the film. The coining press is very similar to a type used in 2001 in an Essex-based illegal mint. In this illegal mint, blanks were delivered from elsewhere, cleaned, coined and packed for distribution.

The estimated 14 million one-pound blanks and coins manufactured by Glindon are over half the total number of counterfeits previously estimated to be in circulation. The editor has no special knowledge as to the type of counterfeit produced by Glindon. However significant levels of brass counterfeit one-pound coins have been circulating since the mid 1990's. This is prior to the time that Glindon is reported to have started operation. It would appear that either there have been at least two organisations manufacturing these counterfeits or this organisation has a number of branches.

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