In August 2005 the Royal Mint launched a competition to find new reverse designs for all circulating coins apart from the £2 coin. The winner, announced in April 2008, was Matthew Dent, whose designs were gradually introduced into the circulating British coinage from mid-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 20p coin depicts the meeting point of the second and fourth quarter of the shield, showing the Lion Rampant of Scotland and the Lions Passants of England. The date no longer appears on the reverse of the coin, and has instead been added to the obverse, where the lettering has been adjusted so as to fit the date in.

Crowned head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (effigy known as the "Fourth portrait"). In tiny letters below head the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley). Around, the legend and date ELIZABETH · II D · G · REG · F · D · 2008 (Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith).

Crowned head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (effigy known as the "Fourth portrait"). In tiny letters below head the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley). Around, the legend and date ELIZABETH · II D · G · REG · F · D · 2008 (Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith).