5p Coin Designs and Specifications

With the introduction of the decimal coinage in 1971, the pre-decimal one shilling coin was re-denominated as a 5p coin and these old shilling coins continued to circulate alongside the 5p coin until 1990.

After a review of the United Kingdom coinage in 1987, the Government announced its intention to issue a smaller 5p coin.

The 5p coin is legal tender for amounts up to £5.

First Issued Smaller version - June 1990
(Larger version introduced 1968, demonetised 1990)
Specifications (Since 1990)
Diameter 18.0mm
Weight 3.25g
Thickness 1.7mm
Composition Nickel-plated steel (since January 2012)

Cupro-nickel (prior to January 2012)
(75% copper, 25% nickel)
Obverse Designers 1990-1997 - Raphael Maklouf
1998-2015 - Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS
2015-2022 - Jody Clark
2022 to date - Martin Jennings 
Reverse 
Designers
1968-2008 - Christopher Ironside
2008 - Matthew Dent
2022 to date - The Royal Mint
Edge Milled
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