Description: This 19p stamp features a serene, close-up photograph of smooth grey and white beach pebbles, representing the restored natural state of the beaches in County Durham. The minimalist design focuses on the clean textures of the stones, symbolizing the removal of industrial waste. Vertically along the right edge, the text reads "Millennium 2000/9" followed by the project title "Turning the Tide/Durham coast." The silhouette of Queen Elizabeth II appears in silver at the top left, while the denomination "19" is printed in the bottom right corner.
Circa: 2000
Condition: MNH
Notes:
The "Turning the Tide" project was a £10 million initiative to clean up the Durham coast, which had been covered in black colliery spoil (mining waste) dumped by local coal pits for decades. The image of clean pebbles was a powerful symbol of the beach returning to its natural state after the "black beaches" were remediated.