The 'fiddly and frustrating' work removing 10,000 coins from Giant's Causeway columns
Summary
Conservation workers have removed 10,000 coins weighing over 20 kilograms from the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland to prevent damage to the rock formations. The coins, placed by visitors over many years for luck or love, were causing rust and physical harm to the basalt columns.Key Facts
- More than 10,000 coins were taken out from between the Giant's Causeway basalt columns.
- The coins weighed over 20 kilograms (44.1 pounds) in total.
- Visitors had placed coins in cracks for luck or love, a practice that increased in the last decade.
- Rust from the coins was staining and physically damaging the rock columns.
- Removal began in May 2023 and was described as "fiddly and frustrating" work by stonemason Nathan Morrow.
- Tools like pliers and grout tools were used to extract the coins, some taking over 20 minutes to remove.
- New signs and social media messages now ask visitors not to place coins in the rocks and suggest donating to charity boxes instead.
- The National Trust plans to use the removed coins in an exhibition to raise awareness about the damage caused.
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