A line of small figures winds through the large Q on the Queuing 10p. It takes an everyday habit and turns it into one of the alphabet’s more playful designs. The 2019 version also has a circulation mintage that differs from most of that year’s letters.
A very British queue
The Royal Mint links Britain’s reputation for queuing with the growth of towns during the Industrial Revolution. On the coin, the idea is much simpler: people wait in line across the letter, with figures of different sizes giving the scene movement.
It is the sort of design you can explain at a glance, making Q an amusing single coin as well as a necessary letter for the full alphabet.
Q’s less familiar mintage
The Royal Mint records 220,000 Q coins issued for circulation in 2018 and 83,000 in 2019. Most 2019 letters have a figure of 84,000, so Q is 1,000 lower.
These are circulation figures, not a count of coins currently for sale. The date is on the portrait side; both years use the same queue design.
Choose Q for your set
Buy 2018 for that dated alphabet, 2019 for the later set, or both if you collect the pair. You can compare the current prices before choosing the date your collection needs.
Plan the next few letters
X: X Marks the Spot brings a treasure-map theme to the hunt. If Q is one of your last gaps, use the My collection checklist to check which letters you still need. Find Q for either year above and add the date you need.
Shop the 2018 Q 10p · Shop the 2019 Q 10p Both Queuing dates are offered in Uncirculated condition.
Q 10p coin facts and issue history
Recognise the design: Queue passing through Q. Both dates use this reverse; read the year on the Queen's portrait side.
- Denomination and metal
- 10p, nickel-plated steel
- Size and weight
- 24.5 mm, 6.5 g
- Edge
- Grained
- Design attribution
- The Royal Mint Team (reverse); Jody Clark (obverse)
These specifications are recorded in The Royal Mint's Q issue archive. The official design proclamation describes the motif and edge.
Circulation mintage: 220,000 for 2018 Q and 83,000 for 2019 Q. These low circulation figures explain the rarity of these dated coins in change. They exclude collector editions and do not count the Uncirculated coins available today.
The alphabet series launched in March 2018. The 2019-dated circulation rollout began in February 2019, according to the original programme FAQ. For bags, cards and albums, see our packaging comparison.
Primary records checked 11 October 2026.