Fish and Chips 10p (Letter F)
The Fish and Chips 10p (Letter F) 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 Fish and Chips 10p (Letter F) 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 Fish and Chips 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 Fish and Chips 10p (Letter F) rare?
- It is scarcer than most A to Z 10p coins. Collectors pay a small premium for good examples.
- How many Fish and Chips 10p (Letter F) coins were made?
- 304,000 were struck for circulation.
- What is the Fish and Chips 10p (Letter F) made of?
- Nickel-plated steel. It weighs 6.5 g and measures 24.5 mm.
- Is the Fish and Chips 10p (Letter F) still legal tender?
- Yes. Every A to Z 10p is legal tender in the UK at face value.
Why the Fish and Chips 10p (Letter F) was made
Fish fried in batter and chipped potatoes came together in Britain in the 1860s. Fried fish was already sold on the streets of London and chips were popular in the industrial north. Both London and Lancashire claim the first shop to sell them as a pair. Whichever came first, the meal took off fast. Cheap, filling and hot, it fed workers in mill towns and fishing ports alike, helped along by steam trawlers and railways that brought fresh cod and haddock far inland.
Fish and chips kept people fed through two world wars. Wrapped in paper and eaten on a seafront bench, with salt, vinegar and perhaps a side of mushy peas, it remains a Friday night ritual in many homes. There are still thousands of fish and chip shops across the country, from busy city streets to tiny harbor towns. It was a straightforward choice for F in the Royal Mint's 2018 A to Z 10p series. Many families found this coin early in their hunt and it was one of the letters people talked about most in the weeks after launch.
How to recognize it
Look for a capital F set beside a portion of fish and chips, an image that is easy to make out even when the coin is worn. The specification is the same as every other modern 10p: nickel-plated steel, 24.5 mm diameter, 6.5 g, with a milled edge. Jody Clark's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II is on the obverse, with the date placed beside it. Both 2018 and 2019 dates were issued, so check that side before you put the coin away. The F design does not change between the two years. The year is the only difference and a quick look under a bright light will settle it.
The other side carries Jody Clark's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, introduced in 2015 and the last of her reign.
Fish and Chips 10p (Letter F) by the numbers
By the numbers, the Fish and Chips 10p (Letter F) ranks 11th lowest of 26 circulating A to Z 10p coins with a published mintage. The next scarcer is the English Breakfast 10p (Letter E) (304,000); the next more common is the Greenwich Mean Time 10p (Letter G) (304,000).
It was the only circulating commemorative A to Z 10p dated 2018.
Of the 304,000 Fish and Chips 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 Fish and Chips 10p (Letter F)
- Confirm the letter and picture: F for Fish and Chips, 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 Royal Mint struck 220,000 Fish and Chips 10p coins in 2018 and 84,000 in 2019. The 2018 coin is the common one. It was released with the big launch and is still found in change. The 2019 version had a much smaller run, came out with less publicity and met a crowd of collectors ready to keep it. If you are completing a set, aim for one of each. A 2019 F with little wear can earn a small premium, while circulated 2018 coins are mainly kept for the fun of the find.
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 the Fish and Chips 10p rare?
Not in its 2018 version, of which 220,000 were made. The 2019 date is scarcer, with 84,000 struck. Always check the date on any F coin you find, since the design alone will not tell you which one you have.
What is the difference between the 2018 and 2019 F 10p?
The design is the same on both. The only differences are the date next to the Queen's portrait and the number made: 220,000 for 2018 and 84,000 for 2019, which makes the later coin much harder to find.
Mintage figures: Ten pence (British coin) (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Mint figures. How we build these pages.