The first responsibility of the Royal Mint is to make and distribute the UK’s coins. We estimate that the current number of all coins in circulation in the UK is around 28 billion pieces. And we’re hard at work making next year’s mintage.
Making the coins in your pocket
Learn about the art and process coin-making. Did you know we roll our own metal sheet, cut the blanks and hand-craft the dies; and all before we strike the coins you find in your pocket?
Coin design and specifications
Discover the art and craft of coin design through the coins in circulation today. Learn what makes a coin legal tender and the process each design goes through before receiving Royal proclamation.
The Royal Portrait
There have been four portraits of Her Majesty, from the first coinage portrait in 1953 to the current portrait introduced in 1998. See the changing face of the Monarchy.
Numbers & Figures
Estimated value and number of coins in circulation, 31 March 2010
| Denomination |
Face Value (£m) |
Number of pieces (m) |
| £2 |
690 |
345 |
| £1 |
1,474 |
1,474 |
| 50 pence |
423 |
845 |
| 20 pence |
495 |
2,473 |
| 10 pence |
165 |
1,651 |
| 5 pence |
189 |
3,774 |
| 2 pence |
133 |
6,664 |
| 1 penny |
112 |
11,215 |
| Total |
3,681 |
28,441 |