Two men were arrested yesterday as part of an international investigation into the counterfeiting conspiracy that forced the withdrawal of the £1 coin.

Dutch authorities said that one man, aged 63, was detained in Holland and another, aged 58, in Belgium on suspicion of transporting millions of fake £1 coins.

The arrests are linked to that of Patrick Onel, who is suspected of making 30 million high-quality forged coins since 2006 - two-thirds of the total number of fakes in circulation.

To read the complete article (subscription required), see:Two men held over counterfeit coins(www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v17n17.html)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:ROYAL MINT TO INTRODUCE NEW ONE POUND COIN(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n12a20.html)