When was the first 5p coin minted?

Answer 1

The first 5p coin in the UK would have been minted in 1967 (dated 1968).

This would give the Royal Mint time to distribute the coins to Banks for their initial release.

5p and 10p coins were issued in 1968 well in advance of "Decimalisation Day" in February 1971.

The reason for this was that the 5 and 10p coins were the decimal equivalents of the old Shilling and Florin and had almost exactly the same dimensions. These were the only two coins to survive the decimalisation process.

This was done to allow a period of acclimatisation before the full introduction of decimal curreny.

50p coins were first issued in 1969 replacing the Ten Shilling notes, again, for the same reasons.