10P

The 10p coin is a denomination of the pound sterling used in the United Kingdom. It is worth ten pence, or one tenth of a pound, and has been a regular part of UK decimal coinage since the transition away from pre-decimal currency.

The coin was introduced during the United Kingdom’s decimalisation process in the late 1960s as ten new pence. After the system was fully adopted in 1971, the unit was renamed 10 pence and has remained in general circulation ever since. The design of the coin’s reverse has varied over the years, with different themes and commemorative issues issued alongside standard circulation coins. The obverse always features a portrait of the reigning monarch, with changes occurring when a new sovereign ascends the throne.

Material composition and appearance have changed over time. Early decimal issues used bronze or bronze-like alloys, while later years saw transitions to cupronickel and other metal blends for some issues. The 10p is a relatively small, circular coin, commonly encountered in everyday transactions and used in vending machines and transit fare payments.

Circulation and production are handled by the Royal Mint, the United Kingdom’s official sovereign mint. The coin remains a staple of UK change, continuing to appear in a wide range of designs, including occasional commemoratives that mark anniversaries or events of national significance.

See also: Pound sterling, Decimal coinage, Royal Mint, Coins of the United Kingdom.