Coin

5 Pence - Elizabeth II 3rd portrait; small type, Silver (1990) — United Kingdom

United Kingdom • 1990 • KM# 937c, Sp# D4

5 Pence - Elizabeth II 3rd portrait; small type, Silver (1990) — United Kingdom

Overview

A 5 Pence silver proof coin from 1990, featuring the 3rd portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Struck as Proof.

Specifications

Country
United Kingdom
Year
1990
Composition
Silver (.925)
Weight
3.25 g
Diameter
18 mm
Thickness
1.7 mm
Mint
Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom
Shape
Round
Technique
Milled, Proof
References
KM# 937c, Sp# D4
Issuer
United Kingdom

Design details

Obverse

Third crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II right, wearing the George IV State Diadem, legend around. Script: Latin. Lettering: ELIZABETH II D·G·REG·F·D·1990 RDM.

Reverse

The Badge of Scotland, a thistle royally crowned, legend above, denomination below. Script: Latin. Lettering: FIVE PENCE 5.

Collector insights

  • Design heritage: Raphael David Maklouf (obverse), Christopher Ironside (reverse) is credited as the designer for the Standard circulation coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
  • Struck at: Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom. Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
  • Low mintage: Only 35,000 pieces reported. This puts the issue into key-date territory for its series; expect steep grade-based price scaling and a higher counterfeit risk — provenance and third-party grading matter.
  • Precious metal content: Silver (.925) — bullion value provides a price floor, and many circulated examples were melted during the 1979–1980 and post-2010 silver spikes, reducing the surviving population.
  • Catalogue reference: Listed as KM# 937c, Sp# D4. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.

Curator Insights

Historical context

In 1990, the United Kingdom began the process of downsizing its coinage to modernize the currency system, replacing the larger 5 pence piece that had been in circulation since 1968. This silver proof edition was issued by the Royal Mint to commemorate the transition from the legacy shilling-sized coin to the more compact 18mm format. It reflects a period of monetary stabilization and alignment with contemporary European standards for coinage dimensions.

Design heritage

The obverse features the third official coinage portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Raphael David Maklouf, which is characterized by its elegant, regal rendering and the inclusion of the artist's initials. The reverse displays the Badge of Scotland, a crowned thistle, which was originally designed by Christopher Ironside for the 1968 decimalization. This motif provides a continuity of British heraldic tradition within the updated, smaller physical framework of the new denomination.

Varieties and technical notes

This specific issue was struck as a sterling silver proof at the Llantrisant facility, distinct from the base metal cupro-nickel versions intended for general circulation. Collectors should examine the reeded edge and the frosted finish of the devices against the mirrored fields, as is characteristic of the Royal Mint's proof techniques of this era. Given the silver composition, one may find natural toning, though the majority of these specimens were issued in protective capsules.

Survival and modern availability

With a mintage of 35,000 pieces, this silver proof version is significantly scarcer than the hundreds of millions of cupro-nickel coins produced for circulation in the same year. While the base metal coins are common, these silver editions are typically found in superb condition due to their distribution in official presentation sets. Survival rates remain high as most pieces have been preserved by numismatists rather than being subjected to the attrition of daily commerce.

More from United Kingdom

Other 5 Pence - Elizabeth II 3rd portrait; small type, Silver issues

Explore more

Browse more items in the full catalog or view United Kingdom in the country guide.