Elizabeth II 4th portrait; Royal Shield, magnetic

This is the 2015 BU issue with a mintage of 31,103. Introduced in 2008 when the small coinage designs were changed from the Emblems of Britain to the Royal Shield of Arms. Information received from the Royal Mint circulating coin team: ‘The issue date for nickel-plated steel 5 and 10 pence pieces was originally intended to be January 2011, however this was deferred to January 2012 to allow additional time for automatic vending machines to be updated to accept the coins. As a result, the 2011 dated 5 and 10 pence pieces were issued into circulation in 2012 instead.’