Thousands of coins removed from the Giant’s Causeway to protect basalt pillars; 10,000 coins wedged by tourists over the years extracted

More than 10,000 coins that tourists wedged into the basalt rocks of Northern Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway have been removed as part of a conservation effort. The coins corroded in the salty coastal environment, expanded inside cracks and put pressure on the ancient rocks, causing flaking and rust-coloured stains.