Scientists put shine on Jubilee with world’s smallest coin

Scientists have created the “world’s smallest diamond coin” to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

They used a sliver of diamond to create the commemorative item, which features an image of the Queen’s profile.

It is so tiny that about 1,300 of the coins could fit side by side on the width of the smallest letter on a 5p piece. The coin was created at the University of Glasgow’s James Watt Nanofabrication Centre.

Dr David Moran, leader of the nanoelectronic diamond devices and systems group, said: “We’re proud to be celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with the creation of the world’s smallest diamond coin.

“Diamond is not just an attractive material for use in jewellery; it also has a range of unique physical properties which make it ideal for use in a range of advanced fields of engineering.

“It’s an excellent thermal conductor and has a high tolerance for radiation, which makes it perfect for use in applications such as electronic transistors and robust enough to be used in challenging environments such as outer space.

“We’re researching a wide range of practical applications for diamond technology and creating this diamond coin is an excellent way to demonstrate the capabilities of the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre.”

To create the coin, the scientists etched the image on to a laboratory-grown diamond, which was covered in a special polymer.