Crowned Lion (small) 10p (1992 to 2008)

In circulated condition, most small lion 10ps are worth face value, because nearly every date was struck in vast numbers. Premiums come from three places: the set-only dates, which rarely turn up loose; the 2008 lion, the last and smallest circulation year; and varieties. A couple of the 1992 rim and bead varieties are scarce, and a 2009-dated coin struck with this lion reverse by mistake is a major rarity. Brilliant uncirculated coins from Royal Mint sets sell above face value.

With 2,478,163,170 struck for circulation, the Crowned Lion (small) 10p is the 30th rarest of the 30 ranked 10p designs and has the 186th lowest mintage of all 194 circulating UK designs. That puts it in the Common band, for mintages 10,000,000 or more.

No 10p design has a higher circulation mintage. The next rarer is the Crowned Lion (NEW PENCE) 10p, with 1,768,538,250 struck.

Its lowest circulation mintage was in 2008, with 9,720,000 struck.

This is the size of the 10p in use today, but the tails side shows the crowned lion with TEN PENCE above and 10 below, instead of a shield section or a bird. Check the heads side for a date from 1992 to 2008. Coins dated 1993, 1994, 1998 and 1999 come only from sets. Minor 1992 varieties differ in the shape of the rim and in how the lettering lines up with the beads, and two 2005 reverse dies place the 1 of the 10 differently against the beads.

Known varieties of the Crowned Lion (small) 10p, all listed among the UK error coins and varieties:

• 1992 rim and bead alignment: Minor 1992 varieties exist in the shape of the rim and in how the letters and numbers line up with the border beads; a couple of these types are scarce.
• 2005 position of the 1 in 10: Two reverse dies were used in 2005, and possibly 2006, differing in where the digit 1 of the numeral 10 sits against the rim beads. Both are common.
• 2009 lion reverse mule: A 2009-dated coin struck by mistake with this older lion reverse. Only two or three are known.

After a review of the coinage in 1987, the Government announced that the 10p would be made smaller, and the new coin was issued on 30 September 1992. It kept the design of the old large coin, the crowned lion from England's crest, walking with its head turned outwards, with TEN PENCE above, the numeral 10 below and a ring of beads round the edge. Only the size and weight changed, and the metal stayed cupro-nickel throughout. Raphael Maklouf's portrait of the Queen was on the obverse until 1997, and Ian Rank-Broadley's took over from 1998. Four dates, 1993, 1994, 1998 and 1999, were made only for annual sets, with none struck for circulation. The Royal Mint struck one last batch with the lion in 2008, before Matthew Dent's Royal Shield replaced it later that year, which brought Ironside's forty year run on the 10p to a close. A handful of coins dated 2009 were struck with the lion by mistake.