British Twenty Pence coin
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- This article describes the modern British twenty pence coin. For the 13th century English gold coin see Twenty pence (English coin).
| Twenty Pence (United Kingdom) | |
|---|---|
| Value: | 20.0 Pence sterling |
| Mass: | 5 g |
| Diameter: | 21.4 mm |
| Thickness: | 1.7 mm |
| Edge: | Plain |
| Composition: | 84% Cu, 16%Ni |
| Years of Minting: | 1982–Present |
| Catalog Number: | - |
| Obverse | |
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| Design: | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Designer: | Ian Rank-Broadley |
| Design Date: | 1994 |
| Reverse | |
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| Design: | Crowned Tudor Rose |
| Designer: | William Gardner |
| Design Date: | 1982 |
The British decimal twenty pence (20p) coin – often pronounced "twenty pee" – was issued in June 1982 to fill the obvious gap between the ten pence and fifty pence coins. It rapidly gained acceptance and very large numbers now circulate [1].
The coin is minted from an alloy of 84% copper and 16% nickel (unlike the other 'silver' coins which are 75% copper, 25% nickel), weighs 5.00 grams and has a diameter of 21.4 millimetres. Like the fifty pence piece, the coin is not circular, but is seven-sided to aid identification. The sides are not straight but are curved so that the centre of curvature is the opposite apex of the coin – this is an equilateral curve (a curve of constant width) which allows the coin to roll freely in slot machines.
The reverse of the coin, designed by William Gardner, is a crowned Tudor Rose, with the numeral "20" below the rose, the year, and TWENTY PENCE above the rose. Uniquely in modern British coinage, the inscriptions are mostly incuse; i.e. the lettering is punched into the coin rather than standing proud of it. The coin also differs from other British coinage (bar the more recent £2 coin) in that the year of mintage is displayed on the reverse (the opposite side to the Queen's head).
Three different obverses have been used so far: between 1982 and 1984 the head of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin; between 1985 and 1997 the head by Raphael Maklouf; and since 1998 the head by Ian Rank-Broadley. In all cases, the inscription is ELIZABETH II D.G.REG.F.D.
As with all British coinage, the technical specifications are the same as those of coins issued by such territories as the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey, Gibraltar etc. As a result coins from these territories can sometimes be found in UK circulation.
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