1p Coin Designs and Specifications
The United Kingdom 1p coin was introduced on 15 February 1971 as part of the move to a new decimal currency system, alongside the ½p and 2p coins. To help distinguish these from the pre-decimal coinage, each featured the word ‘NEW’ on the reverse, a detail that was removed in 1982. In 1992, a change in composition was introduced in response to rising global metal prices. The new coins were struck in copper-plated steel, with a mild steel core coated in copper, making them magnetic.
Today, the 1p coin is legal tender for amounts up to 20 pence.
| First Issued | 15th February 1971 |
| Diameter | 20.3mm |
| Weight | 3.56g |
| Thickness | Bronze: 1.52mm Copper-plated steel: 1.65mm |
| Composition | Bronze (97% copper, 2.5% zinc, 0.5% tin) - until September 1992 Copper-plated steel - since September 1992 |
| Obverse Designers | 1971-1984 - Arnold Machin 1985-1997 - Raphael Maklouf 1998-2015 - Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS 2015-2022 - Jody Clark 2022 to date - Martin Jennings |
| Reverse Designers | 1971-2008 - Christopher Ironside 2008-2022 - Matthew Dent 2022 to date - The Royal Mint |
| Edge | Plain |
