Milestones in the decimal coinage of the UK

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Reverse of the 10 pence coin.

Image © Royal Mint (UK).

The reverse design of the 10 pence coin features a capercaillie.

Its scientific name is Tetrao urogallus.

In the UK, this large bird is found only in Scotland.

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A capercaillie.

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Obverse of the 20 pence coin.

Image © Royal Mint (UK).

The heptagonal 20 pence coin is made of copper-nickel.

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Reverse of the 20 pence coin.

Image © Royal Mint (UK).

The reverse design of the 20 pence coin features a puffin.


The Atlantic puffin is a sea bird.

Its scientific name is Fratercula arctica.

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A puffin.

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Obverse of the 50 pence coin.

Image © Royal Mint (UK).

The heptagonal 50 pence coin is made of copper-nickel.

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Reverse of the 50 pence coin.

Image © Royal Mint (UK).

The reverse design of the 50 pence coin features an Atlantic salmon.

Its scientific name is Salmo sala.

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An Atlantic salmon.

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Obverse of the 1 pound coin.

Image © Royal Mint (UK).

The 12-sided pound coin is bimetallic.

It has a nickel-plated inner core within a nickel-brass outer ring.

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Reverse of the 1 pound coin.

Image © Royal Mint (UK).

The reverse design of the 1 pound coin features two bees.

They are generic bees that represent the UK's 250-plus species of bee.

These include bumblebees, mason bees and mining bees.

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Obverse of the 2 pound coin.

Image © Royal Mint (UK).

The 2 pound coin is bimetallic.

It has a copper-nickel inner core within a nickel-brass outer ring.

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Reverse of the 2 pound coin.

Image © Royal Mint (UK).

The reverse design of the 2 pound coin represents the UK's four nations.

It includes a rose for England and a shamrock for Northern Ireland.

The daffodil is for Wales, while a thistle represents Scotland.


The edge inscription reads "IN SERVITIO OMNIUM".

That is Latin for "In the service of all".

It is inspired by The King's inaugural address on 9 September 2022.

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GENERAL FEATURES OF THE WILDLIFE SERIES



The wildlife series replaced Matthew Dent's so called jigsaw series.

Dent's designs used the elements of the royal shield of arms.

These were then split across six of the denominations.

They all came together on the reverse of the pound coin.


This was regarded as clever by some but as a gimmick by others.

Splitting one design across the coinage also meant that it lacked variety.

Furthermore, the series lacked a specific Welsh theme.

This was despite the fact that Matthew Dent is a Welshman.


Moreover, the denominations were shown in words only.

Some criticised the lack of numerals.

The wildlife series avoids these pitfalls.

It has a unified theme that consists of several subjects.

The 2 pound coin design includes a daffodil: a specifically Welsh symbol.

And the coins use numerals instead of only words.


Of the wildlife, the 5 pence reverse design has attracted some criticism.

This is because it does not feature an animal.

But if it had done so, only the 2 pound coin would have featured plants.

By also featuring flora, the 5 pence design provides some balance.

The species shown have also occasionally appeared on some overseas circulation coins.

However, the dormouse and puffin appear uniquely on these UK circulation coins.

Though they have of course featured on some non-circulating world coins.


The puffin did appear on circulating tokens of Lundy Island, England.

However, they were mere tokens and not official coinage of any sort.


The overall design of the series has been very well planned and executed.

So far its reception has been positive.

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This topic is part of a series about the decimal coins of the sterling area. To see the other topics in the series, click on the link below:

The Decimal Coins of the Sterling Area 

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Comments on "Milestones in the decimal coinage of the UK".


See also: Decimals: Miscellaneous Data.