Obverse. Photo © Royal Mint
  • 10 Pence 2018-2019, KM# 1546, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Quintessentially British A to Z, U - Union Flag
  • 10 Pence 2018-2019, KM# 1546, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II, Quintessentially British A to Z, U - Union Flag
Description

The Royal Mint revealed its very first Quintessentially British A to Z coin collection celebrating all things British. The collection features 26 ten-pence coins, each one for each letter of the alphabet highlighting a British icon, monument or tradition, from the red Double Decker Bus and the famous prehistoric monument, Stonehenge to Ian Fleming’s secret agent, Bond.

Obverse

The fifth crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the George IV State Diadem and drop earrings.

The George IV State Diadem, officially the Diamond Diadem, is a type of crown that was made in 1820 for King George IV. The diadem is worn by queens and queens consort in procession to coronations and State Openings of Parliament. The piece of jewellery has been featured in paintings and on stamps and currency. It can be seen in the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

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

Engraver: Jody Clark

ELIZABETH II•DEI•GRA•REG•F•D•TEN PENCE•2018•
J.C

Reverse

The letter U represents Union flag.

The Union Jack, or Union Flag, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. The origins of the earlier flag of Great Britain date back to 1606. James VI of Scotland had inherited the English and Irish thrones in 1603 as James I, thereby uniting the crowns of England, Scotland, and Ireland in a personal union, although the three kingdoms remained separate states. On 12 April 1606, a new flag to represent this regal union between England and Scotland was specified in a royal decree, according to which the flag of England (a red cross on a white background, known as St George's Cross), and the flag of Scotland (a white saltire on a blue background, known as the Saltire or St Andrew's Cross), would be joined together, forming the flag of England and Scotland for maritime purposes. King James also began to refer to a "Kingdom of Great Britaine", although the union remained a personal one.

The present design of the Union Flag dates from a Royal proclamation following the union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801. The flag combines aspects of three older national flags: the red cross of St George of the Kingdom of England, the white saltire of St Andrew for Scotland (which two were united in the first Union Flag), and the red saltire of St Patrick to represent Ireland.

U

Edge
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Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Nickel Plated Steel
Weight 6.5 g
Diameter 24.5 mm
Thickness 1.85 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

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