A steaming teapot makes T one of the most instantly familiar designs in the Great British A–Z. It is an easy coin to choose for a tea drinker, or for someone whose name begins with T.
A teapot for T
The official design name is Teapot, a familiar symbol of the British cup of tea. It celebrates an everyday habit shared around kitchen tables, at work and over a good conversation.
The story behind the tea break
Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese wife of Charles II, was a keen tea drinker. Her fondness for it brought tea into royal life, long before it became an everyday drink.
The coin chooses the teapot rather than a portrait to tell that story. It is a warm, recognisable design for a small gift.
Two dates to collect
The T circulation mintages are 220,000 for 2018 and 84,000 for 2019. Pick the date that matches your alphabet, or choose both if you want the pair.
For a food-and-drink selection, add E: English Breakfast. If a personal connection matters most, N: National Health Service is another design worth considering.
A little gift with a familiar subject
T suits a favourite tea companion as well as a coin collector. Copes Coins dispatches orders within two working days; allow for the postal journey too if you are buying for an occasion.
Choose your 2018 T Teapot 10p or 2019 T Teapot 10p. Our Teapot coins from both years are in Uncirculated condition.
T 10p coin facts and issue history
Recognise the design: Steaming teapot with T. 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 T issue archive. The official design proclamation describes the motif and edge.
Circulation mintage: 220,000 for 2018 T and 84,000 for 2019 T. 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.