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Home > British coinage

 
This article concerns British coinage, the coinage of the United Kingdom.

For related topics see:

1 Current coinage

The British currency was decimalised on February 15, 1971. The basic unit of currency – the Pound (or Pound Sterling) – was unaffected. Before decimalisation there were 240 pennies in a pound, now there are 100. The new coins were marked with the wording "New Penny" (singular) or "New Pence" (plural) to distinguish them from the old. The word New was dropped after ten years. The symbol p was also adopted to distinguish the new pennies from the old, which used the symbol d.


The first pound coin was introduced in 1983 to replace the Bank of England £1 banknote which was discontinued in 1984 (although the Scottish banks continued producing them for some time afterwards. The last of them, the Royal Bank of Scotland £1 note, remained in production until 2003). A circulating bimetallic £2 coin was also introduced in 1998 (first minted in, and dated, 1997) – there had previously been commemorative £2 coins which did not normally circulate.

Every year, newly minted coins are checked for size, weight, and composition at a Trial of the Pyx. Essentially the same procedure has been used since the thirteenth century. Assaying is now done by the Worshipful Company of GoldsmithsThe Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Company, which has origins in the twelfth century, received a Royal Charter in 1327. The Company was originally responsible for hallmarking platinum, gold and s on behalf of HM TreasuryHM Treasury Her/His Majesty's Treasury is the United Kingdom government department responsible for and putting into effect the UK Government's financial and economic policy. The Treasury's stated aim is to raise the rate of sustainable growth, and achieve.

1.1 Coins and dates

A Quarter Penny coin, to be struck in aluminium, was proposed at the time decimalisation was being planned, but ended up never being minted.

Several of these coins have changed in size and design since first introduction.

Description of current British coinage
Denomination Diameter Thickness Weight Composition Edge
One penny
20.03 mm
1.65 mm
3.56 g
 Copper-plated steel smooth
Two Pence
25.90 mm
1.85 mm
7.13 g
 Copper-plated steel smooth
Five Pence
18.00 mm
1.70 mm
3.25 g
 Cupro-nickel milled, wire or flat edge
Ten Pence
24.50 mm
1.85 mm
6.50 g
 Cupro-nickel milled, wire or flat edge
Twenty Pence
21.40 mm
1.70 mm
5.00 g
 Cupro-nickel smooth, seven-sided
Fifty Pence
27.30 mm
1.78 mm
8.00 g
 Cupro-nickel smooth, seven-sided
One Pound
22.50 mm
3.15 mm
9.50 g
 Nickel-brass milled with variable inscription
Two Pound
28.40 mm
2.50 mm
12.00 g
 Inner: Cupro-nickel
Outer: Nickel-brass		 milled with inscription
STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS


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Topics: British Coinage, Current Coinage, Coins And Dates, Pre decimal...

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