5 Pence - Elizabeth II 4th portrait Royal Shield non-magnetic (2008–2010)

One row for each year the 5 Pence - Elizabeth II 4th portrait – Royal Shield non-magnetic was struck. Prices are medians of verified sold listings matched to that year from the listing: circulated is worn condition up to Extremely Fine, uncirculated is About Uncirculated or better. A count in brackets means fewer than three sales behind the figure; a grey figure marked "type" is the median across every year, shown where that year has no sale of its own yet; years with no sales yet fill in as sales are recorded. Most types have been searched year by year only since October 2026, so later years are still filling in. Use the grade table below for a price by condition across all years.

About the 2008 5 Pence - Elizabeth II – Royal Shield non-magnetic

The 2008 5 Pence - Elizabeth II – Royal Shield non-magnetic is a circulating 5 pence coin issued from 2008 to 2010 in the Royal Shield series, struck in copper-nickel (75% Cu, 25% Ni). It weighs 3.25g and measures 18mm across. Reverse design: Central section of the Royal Arms showing elements of all four quadrants.

Mintage figures are recorded for 3 years between 2008 and 2010, 694,377,800 coins in all. 2009 is the scarcest date, with 132,960,300 struck.

Common questions

History and design

Matthew Dent's Royal Shield reverses replaced the old decimal designs in 2008. The Royal Mint unveiled them on 2 April that year and said the coins would enter circulation gradually from the summer. For the 5p it meant the end of Christopher Ironside's crowned thistle, in use since 1968.

This entry covers the first form of the new 5p: cupro-nickel coins dated 2008 to 2010. The Royal Mint's figures give 165,172,000 for 2008, 132,960,300 for 2009 and 396,245,500 for 2010, which is 694,377,800 in all. In 2008 the old thistle design was still struck as well, to the number of 92,880,000.

The type was short lived because the metal changed. The 5p moved from cupro-nickel to nickel-plated steel, and collector references place every coin dated 2011 and later in the plated steel series. The Royal Mint's own pages date the change to January 2012.

The 5p sits at the heart of Dent's scheme. Each coin from 1p to 50p shows a detail of the Shield of the Royal Arms, and the six together form the whole shield. The proclamation of February 2008 describes the 5p as a section of the Royal Arms showing elements of all four quarterings, with the words FIVE PENCE: the point where the four quarters meet.

The obverse has Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait with the inscription ELIZABETH II D G REG F D and the date. The edge is milled. The alloy is 75% copper and 25% nickel, the same as every 5p since 1968.

Varieties and errors

Check Your Change records that 2008 coins exist with 180 degree die alignment, meaning the reverse is upside down compared with the obverse, and describes them as quite rare. No Royal Mint comment on these has been found.

Collecting notes

The useful test is a magnet. A Royal Shield 5p that is not attracted is cupro-nickel and belongs to this type. One that sticks is the later nickel-plated steel 5p. Tony Clayton notes that the steel coins are slightly thicker for the same weight and diameter.

These coins are becoming less common in change. The Royal Mint says that in 2013 it began a programme to recover old 5p and 10p coins from circulation, issuing plated steel coins in their place. They remain the current size, and the Mint states that the 5p is legal tender for amounts up to five pounds.