The twenty pence coin is a circulating denomination of the British (decimal) Pound Sterling. 20 pence equal one fifth of a pound.
This 20p coin design replaced the earlier 20p design by Matthew Dent, which had been in circulation since 2008. The reverse depicts a puffin (a seabird which breeds along the UK’s coastline) and is part of the nature-inspired recoinage introduced to mark the reign of King Charles III, reflecting his interest in conservation and nature.
The chief Royal Mint engraver, Gordon Summers, oversaw the designs, alongside an advisory committee at the Royal Mint, with the involvement of the monarch himself. The Royal Mint does not credit a specific person with the reverse design, but cites it as the work of the whole team.
Twenty and fifty pence coins are legal tender only up to the sum of £10; this means that it is permissible to refuse payment of sums greater than this amount in 20p coins in order to settle a debt. |