10p Coins in Circulation | Check Your Change (2024)

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The original 10p coins were first issued in 1968 as a larger coin and was initially used alongside and was the same size as its predecimal equivalent coin, the florin (or two shillings). In 1992 10p coins were made smaller, lighter and generally more convenient. Only the smaller post 1992 10p coins shown on this page are legal tender. For the previous larger ones, see here.

Specifications are shown at the bottom of this page.

Obverse Type 3, used 1992 – 1997 (bust design by Raphael Maklouf):

Reverse Type 3, used 1992 – 2008 (design by Christopher Ironside):

Edge: Milled.

The design:

English lion, royally crowned. ‘TEN PENCE’ and ’10’ above and below.

Dates:

1992*, Mintage 1,413,455,170.
1993, Mintage 137,729(none for circulation, they can be found in sets only).
1994, Mintage 259,359(none for circulation, they can be found in sets only).
1995, Mintage 43,259,000.
1996, Mintage 118,738,000.
1997, Mintage 99,196,000

Collectability/Scarcity: 1 for the high mintage coins. 2 for 1993 and 1994(for scale details see here)

*Minor varieties exist of 1992 dated coins concerning the shape of the rim and the alignment of letters/numbers in relation to the edge beading. A couple of types are quite rare and should be at least 3 on the Collectability/Scarcity scale, but aren’t widely collected, most people being happy to just have one of each date.

Obverse Type 4, used 1998 –2008 (bust design by Ian Rank-Broadley):

Reverse Type 3, used 1992 – 2008 (design by Christopher Ironside):

Edge: Milled.

Dates:

1998, Mintage 196,203 (none for circulation, they can be found in sets only).
1999, Mintage 259,962 (none for circulation, they can be found in sets only).
2000, Mintage 134,733,000.
2001, Mintage 129,281,000.
2002, Mintage 80,934,000.
2003, Mintage 88,118,000.
2004, Mintage 99,602,000.
2005*, Mintage 69,604,000.
2006*, Mintage 118,803,000.
2007, Mintage 72,720,000.
2008, Mintage 9,720,000.
2009, Mintage unknown.A coin with this date and the older lion reverse shouldn’t exist! It’s a mule (a mismatch of obverse and reverse dies). Just 2 or 3 examples are known.

Collectability/Scarcity: 1 for the high mintage coins, 2 for 1998 and 1999 and 10 for the 2009 mule with the lion reverse(for scale details see here)

Minor varieties exist for 2005 (and possibly 2006) concerning the positionof the digit ‘1’ in the number ’10’ and its alignment with the rim beads. Both types are believed common.

Obverse Type 5, used 2008 –2015 (bust design by Ian Rank-Broadley):

Reverse Type 4, used2008 –date (design by Matthew Dent):

Edge: Milled.

The design:

Top leftsection of the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.

Dates:

2008, Mintage 71,447,000.
2009, Mintage 84,360,000.
2010, Mintage 96,600,500.
2011, Mintage 59,603,850.
2012, Mintage 11,600,030.
2013, Mintage 320,200,750.
2014, Mintage 490,202,020.
2015, Mintage 119,000,000.

Collectability/Scarcity (all): 1 (for scale details see here)

Obverse Type 6, used 2015 – 2022(bust design by (Mr) Jody Clark):

Reverse Type 4, used2008 –date (design by Matthew Dent):

Edge: Milled.

Dates:

2015, Mintage 91,900,000.
2016, Mintage 135,380,000.
2017, Mintage 33,300,000.
2018, None for circulation – 29,909 made for annual sets only
2019, None for circulation – 30,098 made for annual sets only
2020, Mintage 45,347,846.
2021, Mintage 71,200,000.
2022, Mintage 38,000,000.

Collectability/Scarcity: 1 for the high mintage coins, 2 for 2018 and 2019 (for scale details see here)

The Alphabet 10p’s (2018 & 2019)

On the 1st March 2018 the Royal Mint introduced a range of Twenty-Six ‘Quintessentially British’ 10p coins, each featuring a letter of the alphabet representing a British related theme. All of the coins were intended to circulate freely and initially 2.6m in total were made. They were also available to purchase in silver proof form for £35.00 each, which adds up to a staggering £910.00 for anyone who wants to buy them all. In 2019 they decided to mint the same alphabet coins with a ‘2019’ date, so there are technically two of each letter.

They were also sold for £2 each, termed ‘Early Strike Uncirculated’ which is just marketing-speak as far as I can tell. The ‘Early Strike’ coins they supply are struck to normal circulation coin standard and are invariably a bit bag-marked and exhibit a multitude of other imperfections. Initial demand was so high that some early orders of multiple coins were sent in a single zip-lock bag, picking up more bag-marks in the post – originally it was advertised that individual coins would come in individual velvet pouches, then separate small zip-lock bags.

Initial problems ordering them

There was disappointment from a lot of people about the way the Royal Mint dealt with orders and the fact that those that ordered first (some waited hours in the website queue system on the 1st of March 2018) don’t seem to have received them first. I ordered two sets on the 2nd March and received them in mid April! The coins were also available to buy from Crown Post Offices in individual and more attractive packages for £4 each. Supply of the Post Office coins seemed limited and I’m still not sure if the Post Office coins for £4 each are any better, in terms of quality, than the often bag-marked £2 versions available from the Royal Mint.

In Circulation

They didn’t widely circulate and no one was actually able to collect the whole alphabet from finding the coins in actual change! As certain letters sold out, they tended to sell for slightly more, but as of now, the cheapest and easiest way to obtain them, is simply to buy a complete set. Check the usual online outlets and the Check Your Change Facebook group!

Note: The obverse type is new as it shows the denomination ‘TEN PENCE’ instead of it being featured on the reverse. I assume this was to provide more space on the reverse for the main design themes.

Mintage for circulation:

2018 – all coins: 220,00 each

2019 –Letters A to P: 84,000, Q: 83,000, R: 64,000, Letters S to V: 84,000, W: 63,000, X: 84,000, Y: 63,000, Z: 63,000.

Collectability/Scarcity: 2, for all alphabet 10p coins dated 2018. For 2019 coins it’s too early to tell – the numbers made are relatively low, but is there really that much demand for 10p’s that saw little exposure and don’t seem to have captured that many imaginations in the same way as the 2011 Olympic 50p series.

Specifications for all current 10p coins:

Size: 24.5mm
Width: 1.85mm
Metal Composition 1992 – 2010: Cupro-nickel (75% copper and 25% nickel)
Metal Composition 2011 – date: Steel core plated with nickel.
Weight:6.50 grammes

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