Five pence (British coin)

Five pence
United Kingdom
Value£0.05
Mass(1968–1990) 5.65 g
(1990–present) 3.25 g
Diameter(1968–1990) 23.59 mm
(1990–present) 18.00 mm
Thickness(Cupro-nickel) 1.7 mm
(Steel) 1.89 mm
EdgeMilled
CompositionCupronickel (1968–2010)
Nickel-plated steel (2011–)
Years of minting1968–present
Obverse
DesignQueen Elizabeth II
DesignerJody Clark
Design date2015
Reverse
DesignSegment of the Royal Shield
DesignerMatthew Dent
Design date2008

The British decimal five pence coin (often shortened to 5p in writing and speech) is a denomination of sterling coinage worth 5100 of a pound. Its obverse has featured the profile of Queen Elizabeth II since the coin’s introduction on 23 April 1968, replacing the shilling in preparation for decimalisation in 1971.[1] It remained the same size as the one shilling coin, which also remained legal tender, until a smaller version was introduced in June 1990 with the older coins being withdrawn on 31 December 1990.[2] Four different portraits of the Queen have been used, with the latest design by Jody Clark being introduced in 2015. The second and current reverse, featuring a segment of the Royal Shield, was introduced in 2008.

5p coins are legal tender up to the sum of £5 when offered in repayment of a debt; however, the coin's legal tender status is not normally relevant for everyday transactions.[3]

The five pence coin was originally minted from cupro-nickel (75% Cu, 25% Ni), but since 2011[4] it has been minted in nickel-plated steel due to the increasing price of metal. From January 2013, the Royal Mint began a programme to gradually remove the previous cupro-nickel coins from circulation with replacement by the nickel-plated steel versions.[5]

In March 2014, an estimated 3,847 million 5p coins were in circulation with an estimated face value of £192.370 million.[6]

  1. ^ Bignell, C P. "Post decimalisation". Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2006.
  2. ^ Stephen Eckett; Craig Pearce (2008). Harriman's Money Miscellany: A Collection of Financial Facts and Corporate Curiosities. Harriman House Limited. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-905641-95-6.
  3. ^ Royal Mint Frequently Asked Questions Archived 8 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Decimal Five Pence Archived 26 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine | author=Tony Clayton
  5. ^ "Cupro Nickel Replacement Programme". Royal Mint. 2013. Archived from the original on 30 March 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  6. ^ "Mintage Figures". Royal Mint. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2015.