Twenty pence (British coin)

The British decimal twenty pence (20p) coin – often pronounced "twenty pee" – is a unit of currency equal to 20/100 of a pound sterling. Like the 50p coin, it is an equilateral curve heptagon.[1] Its obverse has featured the profile of Queen Elizabeth II since the coin's introduction on 9 June 1982.[1] Four different portraits of the Queen have been used; the latest design by Jody Clark was introduced in 2015. The second and current reverse (as of 2017), featuring a segment of the Royal Shield, was introduced in 2008.[1]

Twenty
pence
United Kingdom
Value
0.20 Pound sterling
Mass
5.0 g
Diameter
21.4 mm
Thickness
1.7 mm
Edge
Plain
Composition
Cupro-nickel (1982–present)
Years of minting
1982–present
Obverse
2018 20p obverse.png
Design
Queen Elizabeth II
Designer
Jody Clark
Design date
2015
Reverse
British twenty pence coin 2015 reverse.png
Design
Segment of the Royal Shield
Designer
Matthew Dent
Design date
2008
Twenty and fifty pence coins are legal tender only up to the sum of £10; this means that it is permissible to refuse payment of sums greater than this amount in 20p coins in order to settle a debt.[2]

As of March 2014 there were an estimated 2,765 million 20p coins in circulation, with an estimated face value of £553.025 million.[3] Of this estimated number, between 50,000 and 200,000 of these coins are undated mule coins minted in 2008 after the dies for the old and new designs were accidentally mixed up during the minting process.