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The British decimal five pence (5p) coin - often pronounced five pee - is a unit of currency equalling five one-hundredths of a pound sterling. 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. After a review of the United Kingdom coinage in 1987, the Government announced its intention to issue a smaller 5p coin, which was first issued on 27 June 1990. The original (large) version of the five pence coin was demonetised in 1990 together with the shilling and replaced by the smaller version, which retained the original design by Christopher Ironside. These small five pence coins were minted from cupronickel (75% Cu, 25% Ni). In 2008, a new 5p design by Matthew Dent was introduced, initially in copper-nickel as well, then in nickel-plated steel after 2012. However, the old-type small coins are still legal tender; coins issued in 1998 have now been circulating for 26 years. The 5p coin is legal tender for amounts up to £5. From January 2013, the Royal Mint began a programme to gradually remove the previous cupro-nickel coins (of both designs) from circulation with replacement by the nickel-plated steel versions. | ||||||||||||
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Variety | In mint sets | |
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Mintage | Issued: 96,192 (included in total) | |
In Set |
1998 United Kingdom Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Collection, mintage 96,192
9 coins: £2 Technology, £1 Royal Arms, 50p Britannia, 50p EU, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p - variety: 1998 Baby Gift Set - United Kingdom Brilliant Uncirculated Coin Collection, mintage unknown (included in the above set) - variety: 1998 United Kingdom Wedding Coin Collection, mintage unknown (included in the above set) | |
Variety | Proof FDC | |
Mintage | Issued: 63,670 (included in total) | |
In Set |
1998 United Kingdom Proof Coin Collection, mintage 36,907
10 coins: £5 Prince Charles' 50th Birthday, £2 Technology, £1 Royal Arms, 50p Britannia, 50p EU, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p - variety: 1998 United Kingdom Proof Coin Collection (deluxe), mintage 26,763 (not included in the above set) |
Source | Edition | About | Link | Notes |
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Royal Mint | 28th March 2019 | Mint | link | |
Royal Mint | 28th March 2019 | Mintage | link | Circulation mintage |
Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom | Mintage | Proof and sets mintage | ||
Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom | Varieties | Proofs, mint sets |
London Mint Office coins. |
Country | United Kingdom |
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Currency | Pound Sterling |
Coin Type | Five Pence (Small, Ironside design) |
Issued | 1998 |
Monarch | Queen Elizabeth II |
Effigy | Queen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait, by Ian Rank-Broadley |
Face Value | 5 (x Penny) |
Circulation Mintage | 217,376,000 (217.4 million) |
Total Mintage | 217,535,862 (217.5 million), Rarity: C (Common) |
Current | Yes |
Material | CuproNickel |
Designer | Christopher Ironside |
Technology | Milled (machine-made) |
Shape | Round |
Orientation | Medal Alignment (Axis 0) |
Size | 18.0000 mm |
Thickness | 1.7000 mm |
Mass | 3.2500 g |
OCC ID | YAPV-ZEYR-CDVQ-OLMD |
Buy gold and silver bullion online! |
Source | Reference ID |
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Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom | D5 (was 4670) |
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins | Great Britain KM# 988 |