National Trust Urges Tourists to Stop Coin Damage at Giant’s Causeway

The Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland, is suffering damage due to visitors wedging coins into the cracks of its iconic basalt columns. The National Trust has urged tourists to stop this practice, explaining that the coins rust and expand up to three times their original thickness, exerting pressure that causes the surrounding rock to crack and crumble. This corrosion also leads to unsightly stains of copper, nickel, and iron oxides on the stones. A report by the British Geological Survey confirmed that the damage results from the expansive delamination of coins upon oxidation, accelerated by the saltwater environment. Efforts to remove the coins are underway but are costly, with estimates exceeding £30,000. The National Trust emphasizes the importance of leaving no trace to preserve the natural wonder for future generations.