United Kingdom | |
| Value | £0.10 |
|---|---|
| Mass | (1968–1992) 11.31 g (1992–present) 6.5 g |
| Diameter | (1968–1992) 28.5 mm (1992–present) 24.5 mm |
| Thickness | (Cupro-nickel) 1.85 mm (Steel) 2.05 mm |
| Edge | Milled |
| Composition | Cupro-nickel (1971–2012) Nickel-plated steel (2012–) |
| Years of minting | 1968–present |
| Obverse | |
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| Design | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Designer | Jody Clark |
| Design date | 2015 |
| Reverse | |
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| Design | Segment of the Royal Shield |
| Designer | Matthew Dent |
| Design date | 2008 |
The British decimal ten pence coin (often shortened to 10p in writing and speech) is a denomination of sterling coinage worth 1⁄10 of a pound. Its obverse has featured the profile of Queen Elizabeth II since the coin's introduction in 1968, to replace the florin (two shilling) coin in preparation for decimalisation in 1971.[1] It remained the same size as the florin (which also remained legal tender) until a smaller version was introduced on 30 September 1992, with the older coins being withdrawn on 30 June 1993.[2] Four different portraits of the Queen have been used on the coin; the latest design by Jody Clark was introduced in 2015. The second and current reverse, featuring a segment of the Royal Shield, was introduced in 2008.
The ten pence coin was originally minted from cupro-nickel (75% Cu, 25% Ni), but since 2012 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 cupro-nickel coins from circulation and replace them with the nickel-plated steel versions.[3]
As of March 2014,[update] there were an estimated 1,631 million 10p coins in circulation, with an estimated face value of £163.08 million.[4]
10p coins are legal tender for amounts 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.
- ^ Bignell, C P. "Post decimalisation". Retrieved 2006-05-23.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Cupro Nickel Replacement Programme". Royal Mint. 2013.
- ^ "Mintage Figures". Royal Mint. Retrieved 28 December 2015.