Coin

10 Pence - Elizabeth II 4th portrait; Crowned Lion, Silver (2008) — United Kingdom

United Kingdom • 2008 • KM# 989a, Sp# F5

10 Pence - Elizabeth II 4th portrait; Crowned Lion, Silver (2008) — United Kingdom

Overview

A silver proof 10 Pence coin from 2008, part of the Elizabeth II series of standard circulation coins. The coin features the 4th portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and a crowned lion on the reverse. Struck as Proof.

Specifications

Country
United Kingdom
Year
2008
Composition
Silver (.925)
Weight
6.5 g
Diameter
24.5 mm
Thickness
1.62 mm
Mint
Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom (1968-date)
Shape
Round
Technique
Milled
References
KM# 989a, Sp# F5
Issuer
United Kingdom

Design details

Obverse

Fourth crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, legend around. The year 2008 is visible on the obverse. Lettering: ELIZABETH·II·D·G·REG·F·D·2008 IRB. Unabridged legend: Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensatrix. Translation: Elizabeth II by the Grace of God Queen Defender of the Faith.

Reverse

Part of the Crest of England, a lion passant guardant royally crowned, legend above, denomination below. Lettering: TEN PENCE 10.

Collector insights

  • Design heritage: Ian Rank-Broadley (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 (1968-date). Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
  • Low mintage: Only 8,168 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# 989a, Sp# F5. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.

Curator Insights

Historical context

The year 2008 marked a significant turning point for British coinage as the Royal Mint transitioned from the long-standing 'Emblems of Britain' designs to the new 'Royal Shield' series. This silver proof 10 pence issue represents the final year of the Christopher Ironside reverse motif, which had been in use since decimalization in 1968. As a non-circulating legal tender silver issue, it was produced specifically for collectors rather than for general commerce.

Design heritage

The obverse features the fourth definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley, a design favored for its realistic depiction of the monarch. The reverse displays the iconic crowned lion passant guardant, which is a component of the Crest of England, originally designed by Christopher Ironside for the 1968 decimal series. The silver proof striking enhances the detail of the lion's crown and the texture of the fields compared to standard base-metal counterparts.

Varieties and technical notes

This specific issue was struck at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant with a reeded edge and a mirrored proof finish characteristic of silver collector editions. Despite being the final year of the type, collectors should verify the 2008 date on the obverse as the reverse design remained consistent with previous years. The strike quality is notably higher than the copper-nickel circulation strikes, featuring sharp rim definition and frosted devices.

Survival and modern availability

With a relatively low mintage of 8,168 pieces, this silver proof version is significantly scarcer than the millions of base-metal 10 pence coins produced for circulation the same year. Most examples have been preserved in original Royal Mint presentation packaging, protecting them from the circulation wear seen on standard currency. The survival rate of high-grade specimens is high due to their silver content and status as numismatic collectibles.

More from United Kingdom

Other 10 Pence - Elizabeth II 4th portrait; Crowned Lion, Silver issues

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