Twenty Pence Questions

The Twenty Pence coin was introduced in June 1982 to fill the gap between 10p and 50p. It was first minted in 1982. The reverse design has been the same through out the run of the series, although the Queen's portrait has changed twice, leaving three varieties to collect.

1. First type
Obv: First Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II above D. G. REG. F. D. below
Rev: Crowned Tudor Rose, 20 below, date above and inscribed TWENTY PENCE.
The border inscriptions are incuse.
Issued from 1982 to 1984.

2. Second type
Obv: Second Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II above D. G. REG. F. D. below
Rev: Crowned Tudor Rose, 20 below, date above and inscribed TWENTY PENCE.
The border inscriptions are incuse.
Issued from 1985 to 1997. The 1986 coin was only available in Mint or Proof Sets. The 1996 version exists as a silver proof.

3. Third type
Obv: Third Portrait, inscription ELIZABETH II above D. G. REG. F. D. below
Rev: Crowned Tudor Rose, 20 below, date above and inscribed TWENTY PENCE.
The border inscriptions are incuse.
Issued for circulation from 1998 to 2006.
20p coins dated 2007 are available in proof and uncirculated Royal Mint sets.

The full designation of the reverse is 'The Badge of England, a royally crowned double rose', and it was designed by William Gardner.

I read a title in Coin World magazine that the British Designs are going to change for the first time since Decimalisation, although I didn't get to read the article.

Also, if you love the British 20p coins, there are some others that you'd like as well. I know Gibraltar uses the same basic design and planchet, but has their own reverse design.



(Edit note: It's hard to type with paws, apparently. Spelling error corrected.)

Very interesting.

Thanks for the information.