Guide
5p Coin Values UK: Large, Small, Silver and Steel
The 5p has been in circulation since 1968, three years before Decimal Day, and is one of the least-valuable modern British coins to find in change. But silver-proof variants from Royal Mint annual sets, the original 1968 large issue, and the silver Piedforts (mintage under 2,000 in some years) are genuinely collectable. This guide covers every variant, the 1990 size change, the 2012 nickel-plated-steel transition, and what a 5p is actually worth in 2026.
Reviewed by Connor Jones, Editor
Last updated:
In brief. Cupronickel circulating 5ps trade at face value. Pre-1990 large 5ps from sealed 1968 BU sets:
£3-8. Silver proofs (mintage 2,500-5,000): £15-30. Silver Piedforts
(mintage < 2,000): £90-180. Charles III oak leaf 5p: face value, low collector
interest so far. The 5p has never had a Kew Gardens-level rarity issue; its lowest circulating mintage was 132 million.
Two sizes, three metals
There are three distinct 5p physical specifications. The large 5p (1968–1990) was 23.59 mm, 5.65 g, cupronickel, designed as a direct decimal replacement for the pre-decimal shilling and matched its size exactly. The small cupronickel 5p (1990–2011) shrank to 18.0 mm, 3.25 g, retaining cupronickel. The small nickel-plated steel 5p (2012–present) keeps the same dimensions but switches to a cheaper steel core with nickel plating, making the post-2012 5p strongly magnetic.
Reverse designs
- 1968–2008: Crowned Thistle by Christopher Ironside, a Scottish thistle topped with the St Edward's Crown. Used continuously across two size changes.
- 2008–2022: Royal Shield fragment by Matthew Dent, one section of the Royal Arms. Part of the six-coin shield jigsaw.
- Charles III: Oak leaf, from the King's first definitive set of British flora and fauna.
Notable issues
| Year | Issue | Mintage | Realised |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | First decimal 5p (large), BU pack | 9.7 million | £3 – £8 |
| 1990 | First small 5p, BU pack | 1.6 million | £3 – £6 |
| 2008 | Royal Shield first issue, BU | 165 million | £2 – £5 |
| 2009 | Lowest circulating mintage (still 133 million) | 132,960,000 | Face value |
| 2012 | First nickel-plated steel | 250 million | Face value |
| Charles III | Oak leaf reverse | – | Face value (BU £2-4) |
| various | Silver proof (Royal Mint annual sets) | 2,500–5,000 | £15 – £30 |
| various | Silver Piedfort (double weight) | ~1,500–2,000 | £90 – £180 |
The magnet test
The fastest way to date-bracket a 5p is the magnet test. Hold a fridge magnet to the coin: strong pull = post-2012 nickel-plated steel; no pull = pre-2012 cupronickel. The same test works for 10p and 20p coins. A silver-proof 5p is also non-magnetic, so weight is needed to distinguish silver from cupronickel: silver weighs roughly 3.4 g vs 3.25 g for cupronickel.
Featured 5p coins on MyCoinage
5 Pence - Elizabeth II 5th portrait; Royal Shield Platinum Proof
5 Pence - Elizabeth II 4th portrait; Royal Shield Platinum Proof
5 Pence - Elizabeth II 4th Portrait; Crowned Thistle Platinum Proof
5 Pence - Elizabeth II 5th Portrait; Royal Shield Gold Proof
5 Pence - Elizabeth II 4th Portrait; Crowned Thistle Gold Proof
5 Pence - Elizabeth II 5th portrait; 1/40 oz Fine Silver
5 Pence - Elizabeth II 5th portrait; 1/40 oz Fine Silver
5 Pence - Elizabeth II 5th portrait; 1/40 oz Fine Silver
Frequently asked questions
Are any 5p coins worth money?
Most 5p coins in circulation trade at face value. Real value sits in (1) the silver-proof 5p variants struck for Royal Mint annual sets, which trade at £15-30 per coin, (2) early decimal date runs in mint-state from sealed 1968 BU sets, and (3) the rare 2008 transitional pieces struck on the smaller new-design planchet. The standard cupronickel 5p (and the post-2012 nickel-plated steel 5p) is otherwise common; even key low-mintage years rarely clear above £3 in worn condition.
What is the rarest 5p coin?
No 5p has ever had a Kew Gardens-level low mintage. The lowest circulating 5p mintage was the 2009 issue at 132,960,000, which is still vastly higher than any rare 50p. The only "rare" 5ps are the 1968 transitional pre-decimal proof pattern (technically a "5 New Pence" struck for the 1968 BU set), the 2009 silver Piedfort 5p (mintage 1,930) which trades at £120-200, and the 2008 small/large diameter transition issues. None are findable in change.
How much is a 1968 5p worth?
The 1968 5p was the first decimal 5p, dual-struck three years before Decimal Day on 15 February 1971 to acclimatise the public to decimal coinage. Standard cupronickel 1968 5ps are common in worn condition and trade at face value; uncirculated examples from sealed Royal Mint BU sets (the famous blue plastic wallet) sell at £3-8. Original sealed 1968 BU sets (containing 5p, 10p and other transitionals) trade at £15-25.
When did the 5p change size?
The 5p was reduced from 23.59 mm / 5.65 g to 18.0 mm / 3.25 g on 27 June 1990. The pre-1990 large 5p was the same size as the original pre-decimal shilling (which it was designed to replace alongside the bob/shilling demonetisation). After June 1990 the smaller 5p size has been retained; in 2012 the metal switched from cupronickel to nickel-plated steel for cost reasons, but the dimensions stayed the same.
Can I still spend a pre-1990 large 5p?
No. The pre-1990 large 5p was demonetised on 31 December 1990. It is no longer legal tender. Most banks will not exchange them at face value either. In numismatic terms a worn pre-1990 5p is worth pence; uncirculated BU examples in original Royal Mint packaging trade at £3-8 each. The smaller post-1990 5p remains current legal tender.
Are silver 5p coins valuable?
Yes. The Royal Mint strikes a silver-proof 5p in most years as part of the silver-proof annual set. Mintages are typically 2,500-5,000. The silver-proof 5p contains around 3.25 g of .925 sterling silver (slightly more than the post-1990 cupronickel weight thanks to silver's density); melt value is roughly £1.80 at current spot. Realised resale on eBay UK runs £15-30 for individual coins still sealed in Royal Mint capsule. Silver Piedfort 5p variants (struck on a double-thick blank, mintage typically <2,000) trade at £90-180.
What is on the 5p reverse?
From 1968 to 2008 the reverse showed the Crowned Scottish Thistle by Christopher Ironside. From 2008 onwards the reverse changed to a section of the Royal Shield by Matthew Dent, designed as part of his Royal Shield series in which six denominations together form the complete Royal Arms. Coins with the portrait of King Charles III carry an oak leaf reverse, one of the eight British flora and fauna designs in his first definitive set.
Is the 5p magnetic?
Pre-2012 5ps are cupronickel (75% copper, 25% nickel) and are not magnetic. From January 2012 the Royal Mint switched to nickel-plated steel for cost savings, and post-2012 5ps are strongly magnetic. A magnet test is the quickest way to identify a pre-2012 vs post-2012 5p without checking the date. Vending machines were upgraded in 2012-13 to accept both versions; the magnetic property is also used in coin-counting machines.
How can I tell if my 5p is silver?
Three checks. Weight: a sterling silver 5p weighs around 3.4 g (vs 3.25 g for cupronickel and post-2012 nickel-plated steel). The difference is small but real. Magnet test: a silver 5p is non-magnetic; a post-2012 nickel-plated steel 5p is strongly magnetic; a pre-2012 cupronickel 5p is non-magnetic too, so weight is the distinguishing test between silver and cupronickel. Packaging: Royal Mint silver proofs ship in clamshell capsules in numbered presentation cases; loose silver 5ps almost always come from one of these sets.
Why are 5ps so small?
The reduction in 1990 was driven by metal cost. A 23.59 mm cupronickel coin contained a meaningful amount of copper and nickel; halving the diameter halved the metal content per coin. The Royal Mint estimated savings of around £3 million per year on 5p production at 1990 prices. The smaller 5p has been criticised by the visually-impaired community as it is hard to distinguish by touch from a 10p or 20p (all three are cupronickel-finish heptagonal/round small coins). The 2012 switch to nickel-plated steel was a further cost-cut for the same reason.
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