Union Flag 10p (Letter U)
The Union Flag 10p (Letter U) is a circulating A to Z 10p with 304,000 made. Value band: small premium. Here is how to recognize it, what makes one worth more and what to check on yours.
- Year
- 2018
- Circulation mintage
- 304,000
- Value band
- Small premium
- Composition
- Nickel-plated steel
Original illustration of the coin's shape and metal. Tap to flip. Not a picture of the actual design.
Face value · Small premium · Collector premium · Significant rarity. We use bands because prices change daily.
What is a Union Flag 10p (Letter U) worth?
The A to Z 10p coins were made in small runs for circulation (220,000 dated 2018 and 84,000 dated 2019 for this letter). They were made to be collected. A circulated Union Flag 10p brings a small premium to collectors filling a set, more for the scarcer 2019 date and more again in uncirculated condition.
What would make yours worth more:
- The scarcer 2019 date
- Uncirculated condition
- An original collector card or pack
For market prices, look at recent sold results for the same coin in the same condition, not asking prices.
Quick answers
- Is the Union Flag 10p (Letter U) rare?
- It is scarcer than most A to Z 10p coins. Collectors pay a small premium for good examples.
- How many Union Flag 10p (Letter U) coins were made?
- 304,000 were struck for circulation.
- What is the Union Flag 10p (Letter U) made of?
- Nickel-plated steel. It weighs 6.5 g and measures 24.5 mm.
- Is the Union Flag 10p (Letter U) still legal tender?
- Yes. Every A to Z 10p is legal tender in the UK at face value.
Why the Union Flag 10p (Letter U) was made
The Union Flag combines three crosses. The red cross of St George stands for England, the white diagonal cross of St Andrew on a blue field for Scotland and the red diagonal cross of St Patrick for Ireland. The first version, joining the English and Scottish crosses, appeared in 1606 after James VI of Scotland became James I of England. The current design dates from 1801, when the Act of Union with Ireland added the cross of St Patrick. Wales is not represented, since it was already joined to England when the first flag was created.
The flag is often called the Union Jack, a name whose origins are still debated. Both names are widely used. It flies from government buildings, at sporting events and at royal celebrations and it has been printed on everything from mugs to guitars. In the 1960s it became a symbol of British fashion and pop music and it came back in the same role during the 1990s. The Royal Mint chose it for U in its 2018 A to Z 10p series. It is perhaps the most immediately recognizable design in the whole set.
How to recognize it
On the U coin the Union Flag's crosses are arranged with the letter U, an instantly familiar pattern even at 10p size. It is a standard nickel-plated steel 10p, 24.5 mm in diameter, weighing 6.5 g, with a milled edge. The obverse has Jody Clark's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with the date. Union Flag coins exist with both 2018 and 2019 dates and the reverse is identical on both. If you are checking for the scarcer 2019 coin, the date on the obverse is all you need to look at. The thin diagonal lines of the flag are the first detail to soften with wear.
The other side carries Jody Clark's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, introduced in 2015 and the last of her reign.
Union Flag 10p (Letter U) by the numbers
By the numbers, the Union Flag 10p (Letter U) ranks 24th lowest of 26 circulating A to Z 10p coins with a published mintage. The next scarcer is the Tea 10p (Letter T) (304,000); the next more common is the Villages 10p (Letter V) (304,000).
It was the only circulating commemorative A to Z 10p dated 2018.
Of the 304,000 Union Flag 10p coins, 220,000 are dated 2018 and 84,000 are dated 2019. About 2.6 coins were dated 2018 for every one dated 2019, which makes 2019 the date to look for.
What to check on your Union Flag 10p (Letter U)
- Confirm the letter and picture: U for Union Flag, with the date 2018 or 2019.
- Check the date. The 2019 coins had much smaller runs, so the same letter is scarcer with a 2019 date.
- Look at the surfaces under a light: coins from collector packs have unbroken luster, while change-worn coins show scuffs on the letter and design.
- Keep sets in order in a holder rather than loose; scratches on the large flat letter are easy to see.
The Union Flag 10p was made in quantities of 220,000 dated 2018 and 84,000 dated 2019. Patriotic designs tend to be popular with the general public, so this coin is often kept by people who are not building a full set. The 2019 coin is scarcer because fewer were made and collectors were ready for them. Look for clear crosses and a clean field. A sharp 2019 coin can draw a small premium, while a worn 2018 one is a pleasant face value keeper.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 10 pence |
| Issuer | Royal Mint |
| Year | 2018 |
| Circulation mintage | 304,000 |
| Composition | Nickel-plated steel |
| Weight | 6.5 g |
| Diameter | 24.5 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Milled |
| Portrait | Clark |
Other 2018 A to Z 10p coins
Frequently asked questions
Is it the Union Flag or the Union Jack on the U 10p?
Both names are commonly used for the same flag. The Royal Mint called this design the Union Flag. The flag combines the crosses of St George, St Andrew and St Patrick and has had its current form since 1801.
Is the 2019 Union Flag 10p rare?
It is scarcer than the 2018 version, with 84,000 made against 220,000. It is not a great rarity, but it turns up far less often in change and is the date most collectors still need.
Mintage figures: Ten pence (British coin) (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Mint figures. How we build these pages.