Ten pence (British decimal coin)

Infobox Coin
Denomination = Ten pence
Country = United Kingdom
Value = 10.0
Unit = pence sterling
Mass = 6.5
Diameter = 24.5
Thickness = 1.85
Edge = Milled
Composition = 75% Cu, 25%Ni
Years of Minting = 1992–present
Catalog Number = -
Obverse =
Obverse Design = Queen Elizabeth II
Obverse Designer = Ian Rank-Broadley
Obverse Design Date = 1997
Reverse = New 10p 2008.jpg
Reverse Design = Segment of the Royal Shield
Reverse Designer = Matthew Dent
Reverse Design Date = 2008
The British decimal ten pence (10p) coin – often pronounced "ten pee" – was issued in 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 After decimalisation the old two-shilling coins continued to circulate, with a value of 10p, until finally withdrawn in 1993.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 an 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. In 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five pence coin, and the new ten pence was in fact only a gram heavier and half a millimetre larger than the previously withdrawn five pence. All the older 10p and florin coins were withdrawn from circulation and demonetised from 1 July 1993. With the earlier withdrawal of the 5p and shilling coins, the 10p was the last of the "historical" coin-sizes to be withdrawn.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. For details see the Coins of the UK link below.

As of December 2005 there were an estimated total 1,587 million 10p coins in circulation. [ [http://www.royalmint.gov.uk/Corporate/BritishCoinage/CirculationFigures/Coins_in_Circulation.aspx Estimated Coins in Circulation] , Royal Mint]

Reverse designs

1968–2008

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.

2008–

In August 2005 the Royal Mint launched a competition to find new reverse designs for all circulating coins apart from the £2 coin. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4160122.stm "Royal Mint seeks new coin designs"] , BBC News, 17 August 2005] The winner, announced in April 2008, was Matthew Dent, whose designs will appear on the British coinage from summer 2008. [ [http://www.dofonline.co.uk/economy/royal-mint-unveils-new-uk-coins.html "Royal Mint unveils new UK coins"] , 2 April 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.

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 ~ 66,836,000

References

External links

* [http://www.royalmint.gov.uk/Corporate/BritishCoinage/CoinDesign/10pCoin.aspx British Royal Mint – 10p Coin]
* [http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/dec10.html Coins of the UK – Decimal 10p Coin]