{{short description|Coin of the United Kingdom}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox coin | Country = United Kingdom | Denomination = Five pence | Value = £0.05 | Unit = | Mass = (1968–1990) 5.65 g<br>(1990–present) 3.25 | Diameter = (1968–1990) 23.59 mm<br>(1990–present) 18.00 | Thickness = (Cupro-nickel) 1.7 mm<br>(Steel) 1.89 | Edge = Milled | Composition = Cupronickel (1968–2010)<br>Nickel-plated steel (2011–) | Years of Minting = 1968–present | Catalog Number = | Obverse = British five pence coin 2016 obverse.png | Obverse Image Size = 150 | Obverse Design = Queen Elizabeth II | Obverse Designer = Jody Clark | Obverse Design Date = 2015 | Reverse = British five pence coin 2015 reverse.png | Reverse Image Size = 150 | Reverse Design = Segment of the Royal Shield | Reverse Designer = Matthew Dent | Reverse Design Date = 2008 }} The British decimal '''five pence''' coin (often shortened to '''5p''' in writing and speech) is a denomination of sterling coinage worth {{frac|5|100}} of a pound. Its obverse has featured the profile of the British monarch since the coin’s introduction on 23 April 1968, replacing the shilling in preparation for decimalisation in 1971.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bignell.uk.com/post_dec.htm|first=C P|title=Post decimalisation|last=Bignell|access-date=2006-05-23|archive-date=23 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623043714/http://www.bignell.uk.com/post_dec.htm|url-status=usurped}}</ref> It remained the same size as the one shilling coin, which also remained legal tender, until a smaller version was introduced in June 1990 with the older coins being withdrawn on 31 December 1990.<ref name="EckettPearce2008">{{cite book|author1=Stephen Eckett|author2=Craig Pearce|title=Harriman's Money Miscellany: A Collection of Financial Facts and Corporate Curiosities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=14rNAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA19|year=2008|publisher=Harriman House Limited|isbn=978-1-905641-95-6|page=19}}</ref>

Five pence coins are legal tender 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.<ref>[http://www.royalmint.gov.uk/home/frequentlyaskedquestions.aspx#q33 Royal Mint Frequently Asked Questions] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108081051/http://www.royalmint.gov.uk/home/frequentlyaskedquestions.aspx#q33 |date=8 January 2009 }}</ref>

The five pence coin was originally minted from cupro-nickel (75% Cu, 25% Ni), but since 2011<ref>[http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk/dec5.html Decimal Five Pence] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926161740/http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk/dec5.html |date=26 September 2017 }} | author=Tony Clayton</ref> 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, replacing them with nickel-plated steel versions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cupro Nickel Replacement Programme |year=2013 |publisher=Royal Mint |url= https://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/cupro-nickel-replacement/|access-date = 10 January 2025 }}</ref>

In March 2014, an estimated 3,847 million 5p coins were in circulation with an estimated face value of £192.370 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mintage Figures|url=http://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/circulation-coin-mintage-figures|publisher=Royal Mint|access-date=28 December 2015|archive-date=17 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517124642/http://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/circulation-coin-mintage-figures|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Design == thumb|100px|left|Thistle design reverse: 1982–2008

The original reverse of the coin, designed by Christopher Ironside, and used from 1968 to 2008, is a crowned thistle (formally, ''The Badge of Scotland, a thistle royally crowned''), with the numeral "5" below the thistle, and either {{small|NEW PENCE}} (1968–1981) or {{small|FIVE PENCE}} (1982–2008) above the thistle.

To date, three different obverses have been used. In all cases, the inscription is {{small|ELIZABETH II D.G.REG.F.D. 2013}},<ref name="bcoins">{{cite web|url=http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/decbr.html|first=Tony|last=Clayton|title=Decimal Coins of the UK – Bronze|access-date=2006-05-24|archive-date=27 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070527210521/http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/decbr.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> where 2013 is replaced by the year of minting. In the original design, both sides of the coin are encircled by dots, a common feature on coins, known as beading.

As with all new decimal currency, until 1984 the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin appeared on the obverse,<ref name="design">{{cite web|url=http://www.royalmint.com/RoyalMint/web/site/Corporate/Corp_british_coinage/CoinDesign/1pCoin.asp |title=1p Coin |publisher=British Royal Mint |access-date=2006-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427104248/http://www.royalmint.com/RoyalMint/web/site/Corporate/Corp_british_coinage/CoinDesign/1pCoin.asp |archive-date=2006-04-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> in which the Queen wears the 'Girls of Great Britain and Ireland' Tiara.

Between 1985 and 1997, the portrait by Raphael Maklouf was used,<ref name="design" /> in which the Queen wears the George IV State Diadem.

On 27 June 1990, a reduced-size version of the five pence coin was introduced. The older, larger coins were withdrawn on 31 December 1990. The design remained unchanged.

From 1998 to 2015, the portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley was used,<ref name="design" /> again featuring the tiara, with a signature-mark {{small|IRB}} below the portrait.

In June 2015, coins bearing the portrait by Jody Clark were introduced into circulation.

In August 2005, the Royal Mint launched a competition to find new reverse designs for all circulating coins apart from the £2 coin.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4160122.stm "Royal Mint seeks new coin designs"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513015206/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4160122.stm |date=13 May 2014 }}, BBC News, 17 August 2005</ref> The winner, announced in April 2008, was Matthew Dent, whose designs were gradually introduced into the circulating British coinage from mid-2008.<ref>[http://www.dofonline.co.uk/economy/royal-mint-unveils-new-uk-coins.html "Royal Mint unveils new UK coins"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907185741/http://www.dofonline.co.uk/economy/royal-mint-unveils-new-uk-coins.html |date=7 September 2008 }}, 2 April 2008</ref> The designs for the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p coins depict sections of the Royal Shield that form the whole shield when placed together. The shield in its entirety was featured on the now-obsolete round £1 coin. The 5p coin depicts the centre of the Royal shield, showing the meeting point of the four quarters. The coin's obverse remains largely unchanged, but the beading (the ring of dots around the coin's circumference), which no longer features on the coin's reverse, has also been removed from the obverse.

In October 2023 the King Charles III five-pence coin, featuring an oak leaf with acorns, was presented.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67091137|work= BBC News|title=King Charles III new coins designed to help children to count|access-date = 11 January 2025|date = 13 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalmint.com/annual-sets/2023/definitives/|title= 2023 Definitives: His Majesty King Charles III’s First Definitive Coins| website=Royal Mint|access-date = 11 January 2025}}</ref>

==Mintages== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: right;" |+Number of five pence coins minted for circulation by year<ref>{{Cite web |title=Five Pence mintage figures (5p) |url=https://www.royalmint.com/corporate/circulating-coin/uk-currency/mintages/5-pence/ |access-date=10 January 2025 |website=Royal Mint}}</ref> ! Year ! Number minted ! Composition ! Diameter (mm) ! Portrait ! Reverse |- | 1968 || 98,868,250|| rowspan="44" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Cupro-nickel || rowspan="22" style="vertical-align: top;" | {{nowrap|23.59}} || rowspan="17" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Machin || rowspan="41" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Ironside |- | 1969 || 120,270,000 |- | 1970 || 225,948,525 |- | 1971 || 81,783,475 |- | 1972 || 0 |- | 1973 || 0 |- | 1974 || 0 |- | 1975 || 141,539,000 |- | 1976 || 0 |- | 1977 || 24,308,000 |- | 1978 || 61,094,000 |- | 1979 || 155,456,000 |- | 1980 || 220,566,000 |- | 1981 || 0 |- | 1982 || 0 |- | 1983 || 0 |- | 1984 || 0 |- | 1985 || 0|| rowspan="13" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Maklouf |- | 1986 || 0 |- | 1987 || 48,220,000 |- | 1988 || 120,744,610 |- | 1989 || 101,406,000 |- | 1990 || 1,634,976,005|| rowspan="37" style="vertical-align: top;" | 18.00 |- | 1991 || 724,979,000 |- | 1992 || 453,173,500 |- | 1993 || 0 |- | 1994 || 93,602,000 |- | 1995 || 183,384,000 |- | 1996 || 302,902,000 |- | 1997 || 236,596,000 |- | 1998 || 217,376,000|| rowspan="19" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Rank-Broadley |- | 1999 || 195,490,000 |- | 2000 || 388,512,000 |- | 2001 || 337,930,000 |- | 2002 || 219,258,000 |- | 2003 || 333,230,000 |- | 2004 || 271,810,000 |- | 2005 || 236,212,000 |- | 2006 || 317,697,000 |- | 2007 || 246,720,000 |- | rowspan="2" | 2008 || 92,880,000 |- | 165,172,000 | rowspan="16" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Dent |- | 2009 || 132,960,300 |- | 2010 || 396,245,500 |- | 2011 || 50,400,000|| rowspan="15" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Nickel-plated steel |- | 2012 || 339,802,350 |- | 2013 || 378,800,750 |- | 2014 || 885,004,520 |- | rowspan="2" | 2015 || 163,000,000 |- | 536,600,000 | rowspan="8" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Clark |- | 2016 || 305,740,000 |- | 2017 || 220,515,000 |- | 2018 || 0 |- | 2019 || 92,800,000 |- | 2020 || 49,200,000 |- | 2021 || 28,000,000 |- | 2022 || 42,800,000 |- | 2023 || 32,400,000 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | Jennings | rowspan="2" style="text-align:left; vertical-align: top;" | The Royal Mint<ref>{{Cite news |last=Banfield-Nwachi |first=Mabel |date=2023-10-12 |title=Royal Mint unveils new coin design inspired by King Charles |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/12/royal-mint-unveils-new-coin-design-inspired-by-king-charles |access-date=2025-08-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> |- | 2024 || 0 |} Mint sets have been produced since 1982; where mintages on or after that date indicate '0', there are examples contained within those sets.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Portal|Money|Numismatics|United Kingdom}} *[http://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/coin-design-and-specifications/five-pence-coin Royal Mint &ndash; 5p coin] *[http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk/dec5.html Coins of the UK – Decimal 5p coins] *[https://onlinecoin.club/Coins/CoinType/United_Kingdom/Five_Pence/ Online Coin Club: Five Pence, Coin Type from United Kingdom]

{{British coinage}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Five Pence (British Coin)}} Category:1968 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:Coins of the United Kingdom Category:Currencies introduced in 1968 Category:Five-cent coins