Understanding UK Coin Sizes

Different modern UK coin sizes

Modern gold and silver bullion coins come in a range of sizes and weights. 

The following list of British coins explores the many different UK coin sizes available, detailing their diameter, weight, composition, and minting dates, offering a closer look at many of the distinct characteristics that define British coins.

UK Britannia Gold Coin (Post 2012)

Gold Britannia coins have been struck by The Royal Mint since 1987. Britannia is the feminine personification of Britain that has been used on UK coinage for over 2,000 years with only The Royal Mint having the trademark to manufacture genuine Britannia coins.

The iconic standing Britannia design features on the majority of modern gold Britannia coins. Designed by Philip Nathan, the image depicts Britannia standing proudly on the shore, her shield and trident in her hands.

UK Full Sovereign Gold Coin

The gold sovereign is one of Britain's most famous coins and is considered to be the flagship coin of The Royal Mint. In addition to a portrait of the reigning monarch on the obverse of the coin, the iconic St George and the Dragon image has graced the reverse of the sovereign for many years, designed by Benedetto Pistrucci. However, the coin has also featured a selection of other different reverse designs over the years, including shields for various monarchs, a Tudor rose, modern St George designs, and the Royal coat of arms.

UK Half Sovereign Gold Coin

Like the full sovereign coin, most half sovereigns feature the image of St George and the Dragon designed by Benedetto Pistrucci. Produced by The Royal Mint until 1926, minting of the half sovereign coin was discontinued until was reissued in a proof finish only from 1980, and a bullion finish from 1982, where it has been produced for most years since.

UK Double Sovereign Gold Coin

Also known as the £2 coin, the gold double sovereign was rarely issued until 1980. Featuring the reigning monarch on the obverse side and, most often, Benedetto Pistrucci’s design featuring St George and the Dragon on the reverse.

UK Quarter Sovereign Gold Coin

The quarter sovereign gold coin is the smallest in the sovereign range, and has been struck by The Royal Mint since 2009. Apart from a few special one-off designs, the image used on the majority of the coins is Benedetto Pistrucci’s famous depiction of St George and the Dragon.

UK Tudor Beasts Gold Coin

The Tudor Beasts range of gold bullion coins was launched by The Royal Mint in 2022, with the first design featuring the Lion of England. The series takes inspiration from the ten heraldic stone beasts lining the moat bridge of Hampton Court Palace and celebrate Britain's Royal House of Tudor and the iconic heraldry associated with them.

UK Myths and Legends Gold Coin

The stories of Robin Hood, King Arthur, and Beowulf have inspired this bullion coin series from The Royal Mint, dedicated to popular myths and legends. Each coin in this series bears a beautifully detailed design on the reverse, featuring a popular figure from these stories, and the portrait of King Charles or Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse.

UK Royal Arms Gold Coin

The Royal Arms is an enduring royal emblem, and the Royal Arms gold bullion coin struck by The Royal Mint celebrates centuries of British royal lineage and history. This interpretation of the Arms was designed by heraldic artist Timothy Noad.

UK Britannia Silver Coin (Post 2012)

Silver Britannia coins have been struck by The Royal Mint since 2013, with the famous standing Britannia design by Philip Nathan appearing on the majority of the coins over the years. Only The Royal Mint have the trademark to manufacture genuine silver Britannia coins.

UK Tudor Beasts Silver Coin

Launched in 2022, the Tudor Beasts range of silver bullion coins take inspiration from the ten heraldic beasts stone statues at Hampton Court Palace. Struck by The Royal Mint, each silver coin release features a different beast and celebrates Britain’s Royal House of Tudor.

UK Myths and Legends Silver Coin

Launched in 2021, this Royal Mint series of silver bullion coins is dedicated to popular myths and legends such as Robin Hood, King Arthur, and Beowulf. Each silver coin released features a detailed depiction of a different figure from these legendary tales.

UK Royal Arms Silver Coin

The Royal Arms is an enduring royal emblem featuring a shield flanked by the Lion of England and the Unicorn of Scotland. Below the shield is a thistle, Tudor rose, and a shamrock, representing Scotland, England, and Ireland. The popular Royal Arms silver bullion coins celebrate centuries of British royal lineage and were designed by heraldic artist Timothy Noad.

UK Lunar Gold Coin

The Lunar (or Shēngxiào) series of gold bullion coins are struck by The Royal Mint and feature a different annual design. Each year’s coin depicts the corresponding animal from the Chinese zodiac in celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Different historic UK coin sizes

Gold and silver bullion coins from the United Kingdom were available in a diverse array of sizes and weights throughout the years. This list of old British coins reveals the sizes and specifications of each piece, including diameter, weight, composition, and minting date, as well as some of the unique designs and characteristics that have defined British coins throughout history.

UK Britannia Gold Coin (Pre 2013)

Pre-2013 gold Britannia coins were struck by The Royal Mint from 1987. These coins were minted in 916.7 (22ct) gold, with the reverse design of the coin varying most years. The most famous design features the iconic image of Britannia standing at the shore, designed by Philip Nathan. Other designs include Britannia riding a chariot, a seated Britannia, and a close-up portrait of Britannia wearing a helmet, among others.

UK Queen's Beasts Gold Coin

The Royal Mint’s Queen’s Beasts bullion range consisted of ten specially-designed gold coins released periodically between 2016 and 2021, with a final eleventh completer coin then released to mark the conclusion of the series. The extremely popular Queen’s Beasts range celebrated the British Monarchy, inspired by the ten plaster models of heraldic beasts that stood guard at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Each coin was designed by engraver Jody Clark, the designer of the fifth and final coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

UK Britannia Silver Coin (Pre 2013)

Pre-2013 silver Britannia coins were struck by The Royal Mint from 1997. These coins were minted in 958.0 silver, also known as ‘Britannia Silver’, with the design of the coin varying most years. Philip Nathan’s iconic design showing the famous image of Britannia standing at the shore features most often, with other designs including a seated Britannia with a lion, Britannia riding a chariot, and a close-up portrait of Britannia wearing a helmet, among others.

UK Queen's Beasts Silver Coin

The Queen’s Beasts bullion range consisted of ten silver coins released by The Royal Mint periodically between 2016 and 2021, with a final eleventh completer coin then released to mark the series conclusion. Each release featured a different heraldic beast inspired by the ten statues that stood guard at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and was designed by engraver Jody Clark.

UK Royal Mint Valiant Silver Coin

The Valiant silver coin featured a modern take on the classic St George and the Dragon, and was designed by renowned coin artist Etienne Milner. Manufactured by The Royal Mint, these silver bullion coins incorporate the theme of honour and victory surrounding the patron saint of England.

UK Full Guinea

The Guinea was a gold coin first minted during the reign of King Charles II. The coin derived its name from much of the gold used to produce the early coins, which came from Guinea, now known as Ghana. The obverse of the coin featured the portrait of the reigning monarch, while the reverse design varied, including designs such as the crowned cruciform shield design, and the ‘spade guinea’ shield design. The Guinea was replaced by the Full Sovereign in the Great Recoinage of 1816.

UK Half Guinea

The half Guinea gold coin was first minted a few years after the Guinea coin entered circulation in the UK. Like the Guinea, the design of the coin varied throughout the years and included a variety of shield designs. The Half Guinea was replaced by the Half Sovereign in the Great Recoinage of 1816. 

UK Quarter Guinea

The quarter Guinea gold coin was minted only in the years 1718 and 1762. Despite its extremely small size, the coin featured the same intricate, yet scaled-down, shield designs as the Full and Half Guinea coins. Due to their tiny size, these coins were unpopular at the time as they were considered impractical for everyday use, leading to their discontinuation.

English Gold Crown

The original gold crown coin was known as the ‘crown of the double rose’ and was minted as part of King Henry VIII’s monetary reform in 1526. The coins featured differing shield reverse designs, and the portrait of the reigning monarch on the obverse.

English Silver Crown

The first English silver crown coins were minted in 1551 during the reign of King Edward VI. Struck in sterling silver alloyed with copper to make a hard-wearing coin, these coins featured varying designs throughout the years and the changing monarchs. The English crown was replaced by the British crown due to the creation of the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707.

British Silver Crown

The British silver crown replaced the English silver crown. These large coins were usually struck in a new monarch’s coronation year, and featured a portrait of the King or Queen on the obverse of the coin. The reverse of the silver crown featured various designs throughout the years, including crowned shield designs and the famous St George and the Dragon design, as also seen on the gold sovereign. Silver crown coins are still manufactured today, as commemorative proof coins only, with a denomination of £5.

Silver Half Crown

Like the crown coin, the half crown usually featured a portrait of the reigning King or Queen on the obverse of the coin. The reverse of the coin featured a range of designs throughout the years, including crowned shield designs and Benedetto Pistrucci’s famous St George and the Dragon design.

Silver Sixpence

The silver sixpence coin is also known as the tanner or sixpenny bit first minted during the reign of King Edward VI. The obverse of the coin usually bears a portrait of the reigning monarch, with the reverse featuring the Royal Arms of England, shield designs, the royal cypher, floral emblems, or wreaths surrounding the monetary denomination.

Silver Double Florin

The double florin, also known as the four-shilling piece, was one of the shortest-lived coins ever produced in Britain. The obverse of the coin depicted a portrait of Queen Victoria by Jospeh Boehm, while the reverse featured crowned shields and sceptres designed by Leonard Charles Wyon, displaying the national symbols of the UK. The coin was unpopular due its size which closely resembled the silver crown, leading to confusion, especially in public houses where it earned the nickname ‘Barmaid’s Ruin’.

Silver Florin

The British florin coin, also known as the two-shilling piece bore a portrait of the reigning monarch on the obverse of the coin. The reverse of the coin featuring various designs including national emblems, shields of the United Kingdom, and the figure of Britannia.

Silver Shilling

The British shilling coin was first minted during the reign of Henry VII. The coins showcased the portrait of the reigning monarch of the time, on the obverse of the coin, while the reverse featured a variety of designs throughout the years, ranging from the Royal Arms to a crowned Tudor rose.