Five Pence, Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information

Five Pence, Coin Type from United Kingdom (issued 1968 - )
Coin TypeFive Pence

The British decimal five pence (5p) coin - often pronounced five pee - is a unit of currency equalling five one-hundredths of a pound sterling. Its obverse has featured the profile of Queen Elizabeth II since the coin’s introduction in 1968. Four different portraits of the Queen have been used on the coin, 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.

The coin was first issued in 1968 before the currency was decimalised, to circulate in parallel with the one shilling coin it eventually replaced. Its dimensions were the same as those of the shilling, and the shilling remained current after 1970, re-denominated as five new pence. In 1990, this original (large) version of the five pence coin was demonetised together with the shilling and replaced with a smaller version, which retained the original design by Christopher Ironside. The reverse design was changed to the current version by Matthew Dent in 2008; coins of the old design are still current and circulate together with the new ones.

The five pence coin was originally minted from cupronickel (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 previous cupro-nickel coins from circulation with replacement by the nickel-plated steel versions. This will have the side effect of leaving only one circulating reverse and observe combination.

Five pence and ten pence coins are legal tender only up to the sum of £5; this means it is permissible to refuse payment of sums greater than this amount in 5p and 10p coins to settle a debt.

Obverse
United Kingdom / Five Pence - obverse photo

Effigy of the ruling British monarch, legend (in Latin), date.

Obverse Inscription Legend of the ruling British monarch, date
Reverse
United Kingdom / Five Pence - reverse photo

There have been two reverse designs of the five pence coin.

The original design by Christopher Ironside featured a crowned thistle (formally, The Badge of Scotland, a thistle royally crowned), with the numeral value 5 below the thistle, and either NEW PENCE (1968 - 1981) or FIVE PENCE (1982 - 2008) around above the thistle.

This was superseded in 2008 by a new design by Matthew Dent. In a world-first concept, 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 five pence coin depicts the centre of the Royal shield, showing the meeting point of the four quarters. The value and denomination are in the middle: FIVE PENCE. Unlike the earlier reverse, there is no beading (ring of dots) around the coin's circumference.

Reverse Inscription 5 NEW PENCE (1971 - 1981), 5 FIVE PENCE (1982 - 2008), FIVE PENCE (2008 - present)
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
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Royal Mint
Royal Mint
Coin Type: Five Pence - (61) Coins
Coin NameReverseObverseIn my collection(s)
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Five Pence: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling
Sub-types Five Pence (Large)
Five Pence (Small, Ironside design)
Five Pence (Dent design, CuproNickel)
Five Pence (Dent design, Steel)
Five Pence (Oak Sprig)
From1968
Face Value5 (x Penny)
CurrentYes
Material
Designer
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size
Mass
Five Pence: Photos
ImageDetails
Five Pence: Photo Coin, Great Britain, 5 Pence, 1975 Coin, Great Britain, 5 Pence, 1975
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Notes: Christopher Ironside reverse, NEW PENCE (1968 - 1981).
Source
Five Pence: Photo Great Britain, Elizabeth II, 5 Pence, 2006 Great Britain, Elizabeth II, 5 Pence, 2006
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Notes: Christopher Ironside reverse, FIVE PENCE (1982 - 2008).
Source
Five Pence: Photo Coin, Great Britain, 5 New Pence, 2015 Coin, Great Britain, 5 New Pence, 2015
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Notes: Matthew Dent reverse (2008 - present).
Source
Five Pence: Photo Coin, Great Britain, 5 Pence, 1975 Coin, Great Britain, 5 Pence, 1975
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Notes: Queen Elizabeth II, Second Portrait (1968 - 1984).
Source
Five Pence: Photo Coin, Great Britain, 5 Pence, 1992 Coin, Great Britain, 5 Pence, 1992
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Notes: Queen Elizabeth II, Third Portrait (1985 - 1997).
Source
Five Pence: Photo Great Britain, Elizabeth II, 5 Pence, 2006 Great Britain, Elizabeth II, 5 Pence, 2006
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Notes: Queen Elizabeth II, Fourth Portrait (1998 - 2015).
Source
Five Pence: Photo Coin, Great Britain, 5 New Pence, 2015 Coin, Great Britain, 5 New Pence, 2015
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Notes: Queen Elizabeth II, Fifth Portrait (2015 - present).
Source