A commemorative coin launched by Britain to mark Brexit

A commemorative Brexit coin has been unveiled by Britain's finance minister Sajid Javid as the UK prepares to leave the European Union on Friday.

The inscription on the 50 pence coin (worth about 65 cents) reads: "Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations. 31 January 2020."

Around 3 million of the Brexit coins will enter circulation from Friday, with a further 7 million later this year.

The introduction of the coins is one of several commemorative measures intended to mark Brexit -- government officials confirmed that a projection of a clock counting down to the second the United Kingdom leaves the European Union on January 31 would shine onto the bricks of Downing Street, and light displays would illuminate government buildings.

As part of the plans for Brexit day, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to give an address in the evening of January 31 and Union flags will be flown in Parliament Square. But not all of the celebrations scheduled to mark Brexit have gone smoothly.

In October, the Treasury confirmed to CNN that the UK's Royal Mint had stopped making a different batch of commemorative coins, which had the inscription of the October 31, 2019 -- the scheduled date for the UK's departure, which was later pushed to January 31.

The UK government had also come under pressure to back a bid for Big Ben to chime to mark Brexit, but, plans were scuppered after Commons authorities ruled out the proposal because it could cost £500,000.

On Friday, EU chiefs Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen announced they had signed the Withdrawal Agreement, paving the way for European Parliament to ratify the UK's departure. The European Parliament is expected to vote on the ratification on Wednesday.

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