In April of 2008 the British Royal Mint has announced that the British coins would feature a new design. Thus British currency officially started changing its coinage. It is worth mentioning that the old designs of British coins were used for about 4 decades. Before April of 2008 United Kingdom currency included coins with the image of Her Majesty The Queen on one side. For many centuries British coins featured the engraved images of kings and queens.

The edge[⁹⁷⁸] of every old British coin includes the letters letters D.G.REG.F.D. that appear on the name of the Queen. Each letter stands for a Latin word. Thus we have the combination of words that state Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensor, which can be translated as "By the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith."

British coins include the following denominations: 1 penny, 2 pence, 5 pence, 10 pence, 20 pence, 50 pence, pound and two pounds.

1 Penny (copper)

Quite often British people pronounce the name of the coin as "one pee." Royal Mint issued the decimal penny coins on February 15, 1971, which is the date of decimalization of British currency.

The British 1 penny coin on its reverse[¹¹³⁹] illustrates the crowded portcullis with chains, which is the variation of the Badge of Henry VII (currently the Badge of Westminster Palace). The reverse of this British coin was developed by Christopher Ironside. It includes numeral "1" struck below the portcullis. In the period between 1971 and 1981 there was "new penny" inscription above the portcullis and from 1982 till today the inscription states "one penny."

Till nowadays the one penny British coin had its obverse[¹⁰⁸⁴] changed three times. The legend that states "Elizabeth II D.G.REG.F.D." remained untouched in all cases.

The new 2008 design illustrates a part of the harp of Ireland along with the head of a lion representing England. The design of the new British coin is credited to Matthew Dent.

2 Pence (copper)

The British coin with such denomination was issued on the date British currency was decimalized, i.e. February 15, 1971. Often the name of this coin is pronounced as "two pee."

The obverse of the coin was changed several times. In the period between 1971 and 1984 it included the head of Queen Elizabeth II, a design created by Arnold Machin. From 1985 and throughout 1997 the reverse featured the head of Raphael Maklouf. From 1998 till April of 2008, the obverse depicted the head of Ian Rank-Broadley. The legend that states "Elizabeth II D.G.REG.F.D." remained untouched in all cases.

The new design of 2008 includes rampant lion, symbolizing Scotland. The design of the new British coin is credited to Matthew Dent.

5 Pence (silver)

Often pronounced "five pee" this British coin was struck in June of 1990. This was a smaller and newer version; the larger version was issued in 1968 and then demonetized in 1990. The reverse of the last type of the British coin (before April of 2008) featured a design created by Christopher Ironside. The image includes a crowed thistle having the numeral "5" located below the thistle. The inscription "new pence" located above the thistle featured in the period between 1968 and 1981. From 1982 till 2008 the coin included "five pence."

The new 2008 design of the five pence British coin illustrates a fusion of all parts of the Shield of the Royal Arms. The design of the new UK coin is credited to Matthew Dent.

10 Pence (silver)

This British coin is about the size of a United States Quarter[¹¹²³]. Its reverse features a design developed by Christopher Ironside, illustrating a lion, which for many centuries symbolized the strength of Britain. The lion is illustrated with the crown of the British Monarch above its head. There's numeral "10" found below the lion. Between the period of 1968 and 1981 the reverse of this British coin featured above the lion the inscription "new pence" and later (from 1982) "ten pence."

Shortly the name of the coin is pronounced as "ten pee." Its latest smaller version (till 2008) was struck in September of 1992. Until demonetization there was a larger version of the British 10p coin, issued in 1968.

The new 2008 design of the British ten pence coin shows two lions symbolizing England. The design of the new British coin is credited to Matthew Dent.

20 Pence (silver)

The reverse of the 20 pence British coin features the design of William Gardner, including a crowned Tudor Rose, which represents the national flower of England. Below the rose there's numeral "20," followed by the year of issue. The inscription "twenty pence" is found above the rose.

It is worth mentioning that in the British coinage, the words are often incuse, which means that the letters are punched[¹¹²⁰] into the coin and are not stood proud of it. This British coin was different from other British coinage issued during that time (not including the recent 2 pound coin). The difference was in the year of the issue shown on the reverse.

On its top there is the British crown. The name of the coin is often pronounced as "twenty pee." This version of the coin was issued on June 9, 1982.

The new 2008 design of the British twenty pence coin shows the back end of a lion symbolizing England. The design of the new UK coin is credited to Matthew Dent.

50 Pence (silver)

This particular British coin illustrates the image of Britannia and a lion, the two being symbols of Britain. Shortly the name of the coin is pronounced "fifty pee." The current and smaller type of 50p coin was struck in September of 1997. Coin's larger versions were issued in October 1969 and in 1998 it was demonetized.

The coin had three different obverses: starting with 1969 and throughout 1984 there was the head of Queen Elizabeth II developed by Arnold Machin, between 1985 and 1997 the design of the reverse featured the head of Raphael Maklouf and later the head of Ian Rank-Broadley.

The new 2008 design of the British fifty pence coin depicts Ireland and two lions symbolizing England. The design of the new British coin is credited to Matthew Dent.

1 Pound (gold)

This British coin has several types of images related to different countries in Great Britain: lions refer to England, a thistle refers to Scotland and a leek refers to Wales. This particular coin features the three lions of England. Shortly the name of the coin is "quid" and it was struck on April 21, 1983. The new design of one pound British coin features the Royal Shield on either side of which there are two inscriptions: "one" and "pound". The design is credited to Matthew Dent. The obverse of the 2008 version features Rank-Broadley H ead.

The new 2008 design of one pound British coin illustrates the entire Shield of the Royal Arms. The design of the new UK coin is credited to Matthew Dent.

2 Pound (gold and silver) foreseeable

This British coin refers to the technological development. There is a quote of Sir Isaac Newton on the edge stating "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants." The first British 2 pound coin was struck on June 15, 1998.