Twenty pence (British coin)
| United Kingdom | |
| Value | 0.20 pound sterling |
|---|---|
| Mass | 5.0 g |
| Diameter | 21.4 mm |
| Thickness | 1.7 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Composition | Cupro-nickel (1982–present) |
| Years of minting | 1982–present |
| Obverse | |
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| Design | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Designer | Jody Clark |
| Design date | 2015 |
| Reverse | |
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|
| Design | Segment of the Royal Shield |
| Designer | Matthew Dent |
| Design date | 2008 |
The British decimal twenty pence (20p) coin – often pronounced twenty pee – is a unit of currency equaling twenty one-hundredths of a pound sterling. Like the 50p coin it is an equilateral curve heptagon. Its obverse has featured the profile of Queen Elizabeth II since the coin’s introduction in 1982. Four different portraits of the Queen have been used, with the latest design by Jody Clark being introduced in 2015. The second and current reverse, featuring a segment of the Royal Shield, was introduced in 2008.
Twenty and fifty pence coins are legal tender only up to the sum of £10; this means that it is permissible to refuse payment of sums greater than this amount in 20p coins in order to settle a debt.
As of March 2014 there were an estimated 2,765 million 20p coins in circulation with an estimated face value of £553.025 million.
The original reverse of the coin, designed by William Gardner, and used from 1982 to 2008, is a crowned Tudor rose, with the numeral "20" below the rose, and TWENTY PENCE above the rose.
To date, three different obverses have been used. For coins minted before 2008, the inscription is ELIZABETH II D.G.REG.F.D.. Coins minted after 2008 have the year of minting on the obverse.
As with all new decimal currency, until 1984 the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin appeared on the obverse, in which the Queen wears the 'Girls of Great Britain and Ireland' Tiara.
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