Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 20 Pence 2008-2015, KM# 1111, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II
  • 20 Pence 2008-2015, KM# 1111, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II
  • 20 Pence 2008-2015, KM# 1111, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Royal Shield reverse designs
Description

The circulating UK coins, excepting the two-pound coin, were redesigned in 2008, keeping the sizes and compositions unchanged, but introducing reverse designs that each depict a part of the Royal Shield of Arms and form (most of) the whole shield when they are placed together in the appropriate arrangement. The exception, the 2008 one-pound coin, depicts the entire shield of arms on the reverse.

A competition to design the reverse of the coinage was held in 2005 with the winner, Matthew Dent, 26, from North Wales, announced in 2008 and awarded £35,000.

Obverse

Fourth crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara.

The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara was a wedding present in 1947 from her grandmother, Queen Mary, who received it as a gift from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland in 1893 on the occasion of her marriage to the Duke of York, later George V. Made by E. Wolfe & Co., it was purchased from Garrard & Co. by a committee organised by Lady Eve Greville. In 1914, Mary adapted the tiara to take 13 diamonds in place of the large oriental pearls surmounting the tiara. At first, Elizabeth wore the tiara without its base and pearls but the base was reattached in 1969. The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara is one of Elizabeth's most recognisable pieces of jewellery due to its widespread use on British banknotes and coinage.

ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FIDEI DEFENSATRIX means Elizabeth II, by the grace of God, Queen and Defender of the Faith.

Engraver: Ian Rank-Broadley

ELIZABETH·II·D·G·REG·F·D · 2008
IRB

Reverse

Depicts the lower part of the second quarter and upper part of the fourth quarter, showing the lion rampant of Scotland and the lions passant of England respectively.

Engraver: Matthew Dent

TWENTY PENCE
MD

Edge

20 Pence

4th portrait, Royal Shield
KM# 1111 Sp# G4
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Characteristics
Material Cupronickel
Weight 5 g
Diameter 21.4 mm
Thickness 1.7 mm
Shape polygon
Sides 7
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

Related coins

2nd portrait

Cupronickel, 5 g, ⌀ 21 mm
3rd portrait

Cupronickel, 5 g, ⌀ 21 mm
4th portrait

Cupronickel, 5 g, ⌀ 21.4 mm