-It would definitely be amusing, but given the current state of affairs - basically, the public is ignorant and vending machines are used to weed out the fakes - I don't think your average counterfeiter would care.

After all, your fakes don't need to be perfect; they just need to be good enough to enter the system without you getting caught every time.

(Which leads me to wonder - how do counterfeiters insert their fake coins in the monetary system? Where can you spend a lot of coin without arousing suspicion?)

-Coins sold at a discount to people who, perfectly aware they are fakes, use them for small purchases?

-Perhaps more likely - the customer is your friendly neighbourhood cigarette shop, which then mixes them in the change they give?

-Are some vending machines so bad at detecting fakes that you can use those (preferably ones with no security camera watching, which can be a challenge in the UK nowadays) to launder your fakes?

-Other?

Off to google I go. I really wonder how one can make a viable business model from getting fake coins into circulation.

I just looked over the £1 coins in my desk drawer (22!) - I found two dodgies. Perhaps I should bring them to the UK next time and ask in a bank - they may be just worn...