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What are the coins of the UK?

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Anonymous

7y ago
Updated: 8/20/2019

There are 8 coins in the uk which come in similar pairs with the first of each pair smaller. All coins have the reigning monarch's head on the front which alternates direction with change of monarch (the current queen's head faces right):

  • 1p & 2p - these are known as coppers or bronze. They are round with smooth edges. The 2p coin weighs twice as much as the 1p coin.
  • 5p & 10p - these are known as silver. They are round with milled edges. The 10p coin weighs twice as much as the 5p coin.
  • 20p & 50p - the edges are smooth heptagonal (7 sided) curves of constant width; this allows them to roll.
  • £1 - it is a 12-sided milled edge bi-colour coin (similar in shape to the old thru'penny bit (3d) which was 12 sided smooth edge coin pre 1971).
  • £2 - it is a round milled edge. bi-colour coin.

Since decimalisation in 1971, the coins have gone through various changes:

  • There was a ½p coin which was a bronze coin smaller and thinner than the 1p but this was withdrawn when it cost more to produce than it was worth
  • The 5p and 10p coins were the same size (and value) as the old shilling (12d) and florin (24d) coins. They have been replaced by smaller lighter versions.
  • The 50p coin has been replaced by a smaller lighter version.
  • The £1 coin was originally a single coloured round coin with milled edged when introduced (in the 1980s). It was about the size of two old 5p coins stuck together.
  • The £2 coin was introduced later than the £1 coin as a bi-coloured milled edge coin; however, there was a commemorative £2 (legal tender) coin introduced in the 1995 which was a single colour coin larger than the £1 coin - it commemorated 50 years (of peace) since the end of WW2.
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Wiki User

7y ago

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