Ten pence (British coin)

The British decimal ten pence coin (often shortened to 10p in writing and speech) is a denomination of sterling coinage worth 1⁄10 of a pound. Its obverse has featured the profile of Queen Elizabeth II since the coin's introduction in 1968, to replace the florin (two shilling) coin in preparation for decimalisation in 1971.[1] It remained the same size as the florin coin (which also remained legal tender) until a smaller version was introduced 30 September 1992, with the older coins being withdrawn on 30 June 1993.[2] Four different portraits of the Queen have been used on the coin; the latest design by Jody Clark was introduced in 2015. The second and current reverse, featuring a segment of the Royal Shield, was introduced in 2008.

Quick facts: Value, Mass, Diameter, Thickness, Edge... ▼

Ten pence

United Kingdom
Value	£0.10
Mass	(1968–1992) 11.31 g (1992–present) 6.5 g
Diameter	(1968–1992) 28.5 mm (1992–present) 24.5 mm
Thickness	(Cupro-nickel) 1.85 mm (Steel) 2.05 mm
Edge	Milled
Composition	Cupro-nickel (1971–2010) Nickel-plated steel (2011–)
Years of minting	1968–present
Obverse
Design	Queen Elizabeth II
Designer	Jody Clark
Design date	2015
Reverse
Design	Segment of the Royal Shield
Designer	Matthew Dent
Design date	2008

The ten pence coin was originally minted from cupro-nickel (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 and replace them with the nickel-plated steel versions.[3]

As of March 2014,^[update] there were an estimated 1,631 million 10p coins in circulation, with an estimated face value of £163.08 million.[4]

10p coins are legal tender for amounts up to the sum of £5 when offered in repayment of a debt; however, the coin's legal tender status is not normally relevant for everyday transactions.