NHS 10p (Letter N)
The NHS 10p (Letter N) 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 NHS 10p (Letter N) 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 NHS 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 NHS 10p (Letter N) rare?
- It is scarcer than most A to Z 10p coins. Collectors pay a small premium for good examples.
- How many NHS 10p (Letter N) coins were made?
- 304,000 were struck for circulation.
- What is the NHS 10p (Letter N) made of?
- Nickel-plated steel. It weighs 6.5 g and measures 24.5 mm.
- Is the NHS 10p (Letter N) still legal tender?
- Yes. Every A to Z 10p is legal tender in the UK at face value.
Why the NHS 10p (Letter N) was made
The National Health Service was launched on 5 July 1948. Aneurin Bevan, the health minister in Clement Attlee's government, brought hospitals, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and dentists together under one organization with a simple aim: care that was free at the point of use for everyone, paid for through taxes. On its first day Bevan visited Park Hospital in Davyhulme near Manchester, now Trafford General, which is remembered as the first NHS hospital.
The NHS quickly became one of the country's most valued institutions and one of the largest employers in the world. Doctors, nurses and porters danced across the stadium in a tribute to it during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, a sign of how deeply the service is woven into national life. The timing of the coin was fitting. When the Royal Mint chose N for NHS in its A to Z 10p series in 2018, the health service was celebrating its 70th anniversary that same summer. For many people the N coin is a small personal tribute to the staff who looked after them or their families.
How to recognize it
The N design honors the National Health Service, with the letter N at the center of the composition. Physically it is identical to every other 10p of its time: 24.5 mm, 6.5 g, nickel-plated steel with a milled edge. On the obverse is Jody Clark's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, plus the date. The coin was issued with both 2018 and 2019 dates while the reverse stayed unchanged. If you are trying to complete both years, the date is the detail to check. The letter itself is the high point of the design, so it shows wear before anything else.
The other side carries Jody Clark's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, introduced in 2015 and the last of her reign.
NHS 10p (Letter N) by the numbers
Measured by how many were made, the NHS 10p (Letter N) ranks 19th lowest of 26 circulating A to Z 10p coins with a published mintage. The next scarcer is the Mackintosh 10p (Letter M) (304,000); the next more common is the Oak Tree 10p (Letter O) (304,000).
It was the only circulating commemorative A to Z 10p dated 2018.
Of the 304,000 NHS 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 NHS 10p (Letter N)
- Confirm the letter and picture: N for NHS, 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 NHS 10p was struck with 220,000 dated 2018 and 84,000 dated 2019. The 2018 issue coincided with the health service's 70th anniversary, which added interest beyond the usual collector crowd. The 2019 coin is scarcer, simply because the Royal Mint made so many fewer and people were already searching for them. Look for coins with a sharp letter and few marks. Those are the ones that draw attention when collectors compare their finds or trade duplicates. A heavily worn NHS coin still fills the N space on a collector map perfectly well.
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
Why was there an NHS 10p in 2018?
The NHS was the Royal Mint's choice for N in its A to Z 10p series of British icons. The timing suited it well, since the health service, founded on 5 July 1948, celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2018.
Is the 2019 NHS 10p rare?
It is scarce for a circulating coin, with 84,000 made against 220,000 for 2018. You are much less likely to find one in change. A clean example can carry a small premium with collectors.
Mintage figures: Ten pence (British coin) (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Mint figures. How we build these pages.