James Carroll, 16th Mar 2010
LiverpoolFC.tv
The Hillsborough Family Support Group today spoke of their delight at the launch of a special coin to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the disaster.
The coin will bear the names of each of the 96 Liverpool fans who lost their lives in the tragedy and a percentage of funds from each one sold will go towards the HFSG.
HFSG chair Margaret Aspinall said: "It means a great deal to us. We can't thank these people enough.
"It's 20 years later and people are still doing all they can to help the families.
"It's just amazing the lengths they have gone to. It's incredible."
The 4mm thick, 3 oz coin has been designed and commissioned by a group of Liverpudlians working for a memorabilia company in the Midlands.
One of the members behind the project, Maurice McNally, believes a coin is a fitting tribute to the memory of the 96.
"It was last year at the anniversary and an Echo headline 'We Shall Never Forget' which is where the idea came from," he explained.
"Things have been made in the past, scarves and flags, but a coin is forever, it will not rot.
"This coin will still be here in 1,000 years and you can pass it down through generations."
The reverse of the gilt-finished coins have a raised Liver Bird, with the feathers restored by hand, and McNally believes the quality is as good as anything the Royal Mint could produce.
"It's the result of 300 years of minting knowledge that we have in this country," he said.
"The man who engraved it used a needle with a diamond tip and had to take breaths to lower his heart beat so he didn't slip.
"If he made a mistake he'd have to throw the whole thing in the bin.
"The stoker, who has been making coins for 40 years, said we couldn't to do what we wanted without minting it twice.
"That means twice the work and having to put the coin back in exactly the same place before being pressed again or it would be ruined. That's what does my head in but these guys have been doing it all their lives."
John Kavanagh from Norris Green, who designed Liverpool coins for the Champions League finals of 2005 and 2007, added: "Usually a coin takes me a week but this one took about three weeks.
"It's been emotional being involved in something so close to my heart. I'm very proud to have been involved."
The coin is available from www.liverpool96.com for £16.99, with between £3 and £4 going to the Hillsborough Family Support Group.
LiverpoolFC.tv
The Hillsborough Family Support Group today spoke of their delight at the launch of a special coin to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the disaster.
The coin will bear the names of each of the 96 Liverpool fans who lost their lives in the tragedy and a percentage of funds from each one sold will go towards the HFSG.
HFSG chair Margaret Aspinall said: "It means a great deal to us. We can't thank these people enough.
"It's 20 years later and people are still doing all they can to help the families.
"It's just amazing the lengths they have gone to. It's incredible."
The 4mm thick, 3 oz coin has been designed and commissioned by a group of Liverpudlians working for a memorabilia company in the Midlands.
One of the members behind the project, Maurice McNally, believes a coin is a fitting tribute to the memory of the 96.
"It was last year at the anniversary and an Echo headline 'We Shall Never Forget' which is where the idea came from," he explained.
"Things have been made in the past, scarves and flags, but a coin is forever, it will not rot.
"This coin will still be here in 1,000 years and you can pass it down through generations."
The reverse of the gilt-finished coins have a raised Liver Bird, with the feathers restored by hand, and McNally believes the quality is as good as anything the Royal Mint could produce.
"It's the result of 300 years of minting knowledge that we have in this country," he said.
"The man who engraved it used a needle with a diamond tip and had to take breaths to lower his heart beat so he didn't slip.
"If he made a mistake he'd have to throw the whole thing in the bin.
"The stoker, who has been making coins for 40 years, said we couldn't to do what we wanted without minting it twice.
"That means twice the work and having to put the coin back in exactly the same place before being pressed again or it would be ruined. That's what does my head in but these guys have been doing it all their lives."
John Kavanagh from Norris Green, who designed Liverpool coins for the Champions League finals of 2005 and 2007, added: "Usually a coin takes me a week but this one took about three weeks.
"It's been emotional being involved in something so close to my heart. I'm very proud to have been involved."
The coin is available from www.liverpool96.com for £16.99, with between £3 and £4 going to the Hillsborough Family Support Group.