UK Coin Weights in Grams: Identify a Coin by Weight
Got an unidentified coin and a kitchen scale? Enter the grams below and we'll instantly match it against 7,000+ UK coins from 1066 to 2026, or widen the search to the Crown Dependencies, the territories and Ireland. UK denominations have very distinctive weights, most are unique to ±0.05 g, so weight alone usually narrows it to one or two coins. Built for metal detector finds, inherited collections and worn coins where the date is illegible. Free, no sign-up.
A 1p weighs 3.56 g, a 2p 7.12 g, a 5p 3.25 g, a 10p 6.50 g, a 20p 5.00 g, a 50p 8.00 g, a twelve-sided £1 8.75 g and a bimetallic £2 12.00 g. The withdrawn larger coins are heavier: the 1968–1990 5p was 5.65 g, the 1968–1992 10p 11.31 g, the 1969–1997 50p 13.50 g and the round £1 9.50 g. Every denomination in detail, or weigh your coin below and we will name it.
| Coin in circulation | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1p | 3.56g |
| 2p | 7.12g |
| 5p | 3.25g |
| 10p | 6.50g |
| 20p | 5.00g |
| 50p | 8.00g |
| £1 (12-sided) | 8.75g |
| £2 | 12.00g |
Tip: got a ruler too? The full coin identifier combines weight, diameter and shape in one search, which narrows worn coins much harder than weight alone.
Common UK coin weight reference
Quick-reference table for typical UK coin specifications. Slight variation (±0.05g) is normal across production batches, don't expect perfectly exact weights from circulated coins. For diameters and thickness too, see UK coin sizes and weights.
| Coin | Weight | Composition |
|---|---|---|
| Copper-plated steel 1p (1992 to now) | 3.56g | Copper-plated steel |
| Bronze 1p (1971 to 1991) | 3.56g | Bronze |
| Bronze penny (1860 to 1970) | 9.45g | Bronze |
| Copper-plated steel 2p (1992 to now) | 7.12g | Copper-plated steel |
| Bronze 2p (1971 to 1991) | 7.12g | Bronze |
| Nickel-plated steel 5p (2012 to now) | 3.25g | Nickel-plated steel |
| Small 5p (1990 to 2011) | 3.25g | Cupro-nickel |
| Large 5p (1968 to 1990) | 5.65g | Cupro-nickel |
| Nickel-plated steel 10p (2012 to now) | 6.50g | Nickel-plated steel |
| Small 10p (1992 to 2011) | 6.50g | Cupro-nickel |
| Large 10p (1968 to 1992) | 11.31g | Cupro-nickel |
| 20p (1982 to now) | 5.00g | Cupro-nickel |
| Small 50p (1997 to now) | 8.00g | Cupro-nickel |
| Large 50p (1969 to 1997) | 13.50g | Cupro-nickel |
| 12-sided £1 (2017 to now) | 8.75g | Nickel-brass outer, nickel-plated alloy inner |
| Round £1 (1983 to 2016) | 9.50g | Nickel-brass |
| Bimetallic £2 (1997 to now) | 12.00g | Nickel-brass outer, cupro-nickel inner |
| Nickel-brass £2 (1986 to 1996) | 15.98g | Nickel-brass |
| Decimal crown (25p) (1972 to 1981) | 28.28g | Cupro-nickel |
| £5 crown (1990 to now) | 28.28g | Cupro-nickel |
| Sovereign (1817 to now) | 7.99g | 22-carat gold |
| Half sovereign (1817 to now) | 3.99g | 22-carat gold |
| Quarter sovereign (2009 to now) | 2.00g | 22-carat gold |
| Crown (1816 to 1970) | 28.28g | Silver to 1946, cupro-nickel from 1947 |
| Half crown (1816 to 1970) | 14.14g | Silver to 1946, cupro-nickel from 1947 |
| Florin (1849 to 1970) | 11.31g | Silver to 1946, cupro-nickel from 1947 |
| Shilling (1816 to 1970) | 5.66g | Silver to 1946, cupro-nickel from 1947 |
| Sixpence (1816 to 1970) | 2.83g | Silver to 1946, cupro-nickel from 1947 |
| Brass threepence (1937 to 1970) | 6.80g | Nickel-brass |
| Silver threepence (1816 to 1944) | 1.41g | Silver |
| Bronze halfpenny (1860 to 1970) | 5.67g | Bronze |
| Bronze farthing (1860 to 1970) | 2.83g | Bronze |
| Britannia 1 oz silver | 31.10g | 999 silver (Royal Mint bullion specification) |
| Britannia 1 oz gold | 31.10g | 9999 gold (Royal Mint bullion specification) |
How much does each UK coin weigh?
How much does a 1p coin weigh?
A 1p weighs 3.56 g. That has not changed since decimalisation in 1971, although the metal did: bronze until 1992, copper-plated steel since, which is why post-1992 pennies stick to a magnet.
How much does a 2p coin weigh?
A 2p weighs 7.12 g, exactly twice a penny. Bronze to 1992 and copper-plated steel after; both weigh the same.
How much does a 5p coin weigh?
The current small 5p, issued since 1990, weighs 3.25 g. The original large 5p of 1968 to 1990 weighed 5.65 g.
How much does a 10p coin weigh?
The current 10p, issued since 1992, weighs 6.50 g. The original large 10p of 1968 to 1992 weighed 11.31 g.
How much does a 20p coin weigh?
A 20p weighs 5.00 g. It has been the same seven-sided cupro-nickel coin since its introduction in 1982.
How much does a 50p coin weigh?
The current 50p, issued since 1997, weighs 8.00 g. The original large 50p of 1969 to 1997 weighed 13.50 g.
How much does a £1 coin weigh?
The 12-sided £1, issued since 2017, weighs 8.75 g. The old round £1 of 1983 to 2017 weighed 9.50 g.
How much does a £2 coin weigh?
The bimetallic £2 weighs 12.00 g. The earlier single-colour commemorative £2 of 1986 to 1996 weighed 15.98 g.
Source: Royal Mint published coin specifications. Circulated coins can read up to about 0.05 g under the struck weight through wear.
Tips for accurate measurement
- Use a scale that reads to 0.01g, kitchen scales reading only to 1g aren't precise enough for coin ID.
- Calibrate the scale first with a known weight (a 1p coin should read 3.56g). If it's off, weighed coins will be too.
- Wipe the coin lightly if it's dirty, heavy patina or dirt can add 0.05-0.1g.
- Worn or clipped coins weigh less than mint-spec. A heavily-worn pre-decimal silver shilling can be 0.3g lighter than nominal.
- Compare against the reference table. If the weight matches a denomination but not the year, check year-by-year specs, alloys changed several times (silver to .500 in 1920, copper to bronze in 1860, bronze to plated steel in 1992).
Other identification tools
- Decision-tree coin identifier, better when you have a clear date and design
- Silver melt calculator
- UK coin grading guide
- Coin errors catalogue