British Ten Pence coin
Encyclopedia
The British
decimal ten pence (10p) coin – often pronounced "ten pee" – was issued on 23 April 1968 in preparation for the 1971 decimalisation
of the currency. At that time it had the same value, size, and weight as the existing florin (two-shilling coin), and it may be viewed as a continuation of the older coin. Between 1968 and 1971 it circulated, with a value of two shillings, alongside the pre-decimal two-shilling coins – the aim being to gradually familiarise the public with the new decimal coinage. After decimalisation the old two-shilling coins continued to circulate, with a value of 10p, until finally withdrawn in 1993.
The 10p coin is minted from a cupronickel
alloy
of 75% copper
and 25% nickel
. The 1968 version of the coin weighed 11.31 grams and had a diameter of 28.50 millimetres. On 30 September 1992 a smaller version weighing 6.50 grams and with a diameter of 24.50 millimetres was introduced. Apart from the reduction in size, the coin's design remained essentially unchanged. This downsizing took place a year after a similar reform of the five pence coin, and the new ten pence was in fact only a gram heavier and half a millimetre larger than the previously withdrawn five pence. All the older 10p and florin coins were withdrawn from circulation and demonetised from 1 July 1993. With the earlier withdrawal of the 5p and shilling coins, the 10p was the last of the "historical" coin sizes to be withdrawn.
Three different obverses have been used so far—from 1968 to 1984 the head of Queen Elizabeth II
by Arnold Machin
, from 1985 to 1997 the head by Raphael Maklouf
, and since 1998 the head by Ian Rank-Broadley
. In all cases, the inscription is ELIZABETH II D.G.REG.F.D. followed by the date.
Several varieties of the first small coin dated 1992 are known to exist. There are two varieties each of the obverse and reverse, and two of the edge, making five distinct types of which two are scarce.
As of December 2005 there were an estimated total 1,587 million 10p coins in circulation.
The original reverse of the coin, designed by Christopher Ironside
, is a crowned lion (formally, Part of the crest of England, a lion passant guardant royally crowned), with the numeral "10" below the lion, and either NEW PENCE (1968–1981) or TEN PENCE (1982–2008) above the lion.
In August 2005 the Royal Mint
launched a competition to find new reverse designs for all circulating coins apart from the £2 coin. The winner, announced in April 2008, was Matthew Dent, whose designs were gradually introduced into the circulating British coinage from summer 2008. The designs for the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p coins depict sections of the Royal Shield
that form the whole shield when placed together. The shield in its entirety is featured on the £1 coin. The 10p coin depicts the first quarter of the shield, showing the lions passants from the Royal Banner of England, with the words TEN PENCE above the shield design.
The coin's obverse remains largely unchanged, but the beading (the ring of dots around the coin's circumference), which no longer features on the coin's reverse, has also been removed from the obverse.
size reduced
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
decimal ten pence (10p) coin – often pronounced "ten pee" – was issued on 23 April 1968 in preparation for the 1971 decimalisation
Decimal Day
Decimal Day was the day the United Kingdom and Ireland decimalised their currencies.-Old system:Under the old currency of pounds, shillings and pence, the pound was made up of 240 pence , with 12 pence in a shilling and 20 shillings in a...
of the currency. At that time it had the same value, size, and weight as the existing florin (two-shilling coin), and it may be viewed as a continuation of the older coin. Between 1968 and 1971 it circulated, with a value of two shillings, alongside the pre-decimal two-shilling coins – the aim being to gradually familiarise the public with the new decimal coinage. After decimalisation the old two-shilling coins continued to circulate, with a value of 10p, until finally withdrawn in 1993.
The 10p coin is minted from a cupronickel
Cupronickel
Cupronickel or copper-nickel or "cupernickel" is an alloy of copper that contains nickel and strengthening elements, such as iron and manganese. Cupronickel is highly resistant to corrosion in seawater, because its electrode potential is adjusted to be neutral with regard to seawater...
alloy
Alloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
of 75% copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
and 25% nickel
Nickel
Nickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile...
. The 1968 version of the coin weighed 11.31 grams and had a diameter of 28.50 millimetres. On 30 September 1992 a smaller version weighing 6.50 grams and with a diameter of 24.50 millimetres was introduced. Apart from the reduction in size, the coin's design remained essentially unchanged. This downsizing took place a year after a similar reform of the five pence coin, and the new ten pence was in fact only a gram heavier and half a millimetre larger than the previously withdrawn five pence. All the older 10p and florin coins were withdrawn from circulation and demonetised from 1 July 1993. With the earlier withdrawal of the 5p and shilling coins, the 10p was the last of the "historical" coin sizes to be withdrawn.
Three different obverses have been used so far—from 1968 to 1984 the head of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
by Arnold Machin
Arnold Machin
Arnold Machin O.B.E, R.A. was a British artist, sculptor, coin and stamp designer.Machin was born in Stoke-on-Trent in 1911. He started work at the age of 14 as an apprentice china painter at the Minton Pottery. During the Depression he learnt to sculpt at Stoke-on-Trent's Art School, which was...
, from 1985 to 1997 the head by Raphael Maklouf
Raphael Maklouf
Raphael Maklouf is a sculptor, best known for designing the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II used on the coins of many Commonwealth nations....
, and since 1998 the head by Ian Rank-Broadley
Ian Rank-Broadley
Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS is a British sculptor who has produced many acclaimed works, among which are several designs for British coinage....
. In all cases, the inscription is ELIZABETH II D.G.REG.F.D. followed by the date.
Several varieties of the first small coin dated 1992 are known to exist. There are two varieties each of the obverse and reverse, and two of the edge, making five distinct types of which two are scarce.
As of December 2005 there were an estimated total 1,587 million 10p coins in circulation.
1968–2008
Christopher Ironside
Christopher Ironside FSIA 1970, OBE 1971, FRBS 1977 was an English painter and coin designer, particularly known for the reverse sides of the new British coins issued on decimalisation in 1971....
, is a crowned lion (formally, Part of the crest of England, a lion passant guardant royally crowned), with the numeral "10" below the lion, and either NEW PENCE (1968–1981) or TEN PENCE (1982–2008) above the lion.
2008–
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. The Mint originated over 1,100 years ago, but since 2009 it operates as Royal Mint Ltd, a company which has an exclusive contract with HM Treasury to supply all coinage for the UK...
launched a competition to find new reverse designs for all circulating coins apart from the £2 coin. The winner, announced in April 2008, was Matthew Dent, whose designs were gradually introduced into the circulating British coinage from summer 2008. The designs for the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p coins depict sections of the Royal Shield
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
The Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom is the official coat of arms of the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. These arms are used by the Queen in her official capacity as monarch of the United Kingdom, and are officially known as her Arms of Dominion...
that form the whole shield when placed together. The shield in its entirety is featured on the £1 coin. The 10p coin depicts the first quarter of the shield, showing the lions passants from the Royal Banner of England, with the words TEN PENCE above the shield design.
The coin's obverse remains largely unchanged, but the beading (the ring of dots around the coin's circumference), which no longer features on the coin's reverse, has also been removed from the obverse.
Mintages
- 1968 ~ 336,143,250
- 1969 ~ 314,008,000
- 1970 ~ 133,571,000
- 1971 ~ 63,205,000
- 1972 ~ none
- 1973 ~ 152,174,000
- 1974 ~ 92,741,000
- 1975 ~ 181,559,000
- 1976 ~ 228,220,000
- 1977 ~ 59,323,000
- 1978 ~ none
- 1979 ~ 115,457,000
- 1980 ~ 88,650,000
- 1981 ~ 3,487,000
- 1982-1991 ~ none
size reduced
- 1992 ~ 1,413,455,170
- 1993-1994 ~ none
- 1995 ~ 43,259,000
- 1996 ~ 118,738,000
- 1997 ~ 99,196,000
- 1998-1999 ~ none
- 2000 ~ 134,727,000
- 2001 ~ 82,081,000
- 2002 ~ 80,934,000
- 2003 ~ 88,118,000
- 2004 ~ 99,602,000
- 2005 ~ 69,604,000
- 2006 ~ 118,803,000
- 2007 ~ 72,720,000
- 2008 ~ 9,720,000 (Ironside)
- 2008 ~ 71,447,000 (Dent)
- 2009 ~ 60,000,000
- 2010 ~ 25,320,500