Not sure if this is common knowledge or not as i don't take any notice of what's going on with the current coinage issues, but having just spent half and hour counting out a fair few 5p coins i noticed that the milling on the 2007 issues vary. It appears the old narrow 'wire' type from 1990-1992 is back on at least some of them.

I can't see any major difference, it might just be because they are worn compared to the 2007. But I don't have enough 5ps to tell.

- Clive.

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Up to 1992 the 5p and the 10p coins were issued with a ‘narrow’ milling style (it has rounded/chamfered edges), however, in 1992 it was altered so it was the full width of the coin, all years after 1992 have, or should have ‘wide’ milling. The best way to see it is to pile them up and spot the difference.

Some of the 2007 issue 5p coins however, seem to have switched back to the original ‘narrow’ style that hasn’t been used since 1992. If you compare your 2007s with 5p’s dated 1990 and with 5ps dated 1994-2006 you’ll see what I mean.

I wonder why they’ve suddenly changed back?

Not quite sure what you mean, but I have a few 5p coins here, and they do have slightly different edges. The ones I have are dated 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2007. Two of them are depicted below ...

Christian