I recently ended up with a 1994 Battle Of Britain D-Day commemorative 50p coin in my wallet. I suppose I received it in my change somewhere. It's a bit bigger than the other 50p coins that have been produced since 1998 - takes me back to the days when 50p was worth something, but I digress.

Two shops (corner shop type places) have now refused it: "That's an old one. We don't accept those". My response: "It's legal tender. You should accept it," gets me nowhere.

I don't get it. It's still a valid 50p coin, isn't it?

I suppose I could just go into a bank and change this for a new coin, but I feel rather annoyed that retailers won't take it. I'm also annoyed that since my return to London a few years ago, I've received "duff" coins (foreign / fake etc.) in my change from shops a few times. London's particularly dodgy in that respect, I think.