Maths · Colouring and counting worksheet
UK Coins Money Worksheet: Free KS1 Counting Coins Printable
This free printable helps children in Year 1 and Year 2 recognise everyday UK coins and begin adding small amounts of money in pence. It pairs a calm colouring picture of a piggy bank with two short maths tasks, so children settle into the activity before they start counting.
The worksheet prints to a single A4 page with no login or download form. Use it at home for a relaxed maths moment, or in the classroom as a quick warm-up, an early-finisher task or gentle homework that links directly to the National Curriculum money objectives.
UK Coins: Filling the Piggy Bank
Free Maths worksheet · Ages 6 to 7
Activity 1
Colour the piggy bank and all of the coins. You could make each coin a different colour.
- Colour the piggy bank your favourite colour.
- Colour the biggest coin gold and the smallest coin brown.
Activity 2
Look carefully at the picture and write your answer in each box.
- How many coins are around the piggy bank?
- Imagine these coins: 5p, 2p and 1p. How many pence is that altogether?
- Imagine these coins: 10p, 5p and 5p. How many pence is that altogether?
Activity 3
Answer the money questions. Write your answers on the lines.
Which is worth more, a 5p coin or a 2p coin?
Can a small coin ever be worth more than a big coin? Write yes or no.
Name two coins that together make 7p.
UK Coins: Filling the Piggy Bankowee.worldAnswer key
- How many coins are around the piggy bank? — Count and write the number of coins shown in the picture.
- Imagine these coins: 5p, 2p and 1p. How many pence is that altogether? — 8p
- Imagine these coins: 10p, 5p and 5p. How many pence is that altogether? — 20p
- Which is worth more, a 5p coin or a 2p coin? — 5p
- Can a small coin ever be worth more than a big coin? Write yes or no. — Yes
- Name two coins that together make 7p. — 5p and 2p
What this worksheet teaches
This sheet focuses on two of the most important early money skills: recognising the value of UK coins and finding a total amount in pence. Children first colour a piggy bank and a set of coins, then answer counting and short-answer questions about how many coins there are and what they are worth. Working entirely in pence keeps the numbers friendly for six and seven year olds and avoids the extra step of converting between pounds and pence, which usually comes a little later in Key Stage 1. The picture gives children something concrete to point to and talk about, which supports the move from real objects towards working with values on paper.
How to use it at home or in class
Begin by talking about the coins in the picture: which is biggest, which is smallest, and which one each child recognises from real life. If you have a small handful of real 1p, 2p, 5p and 10p coins, lay them on the table so children can match the drawing to the real thing and feel the different sizes. Encourage counting aloud and, for the total, model counting in steps rather than counting every penny one by one. Year 1 children may simply name and sort the coins, while Year 2 children can be challenged to find different combinations of coins that make the same total, which is the natural next step in the curriculum.
Common money mistakes to watch for
Young children often assume a bigger or shinier coin must be worth more, so they may rank a large 2p above a small 5p. Gently separating size from value is one of the most useful conversations you can have. Another frequent slip is counting the number of coins instead of their total value, for example saying three coins equals three pence. Counting in twos, fives and tens supports this skill, so a quick number-line or counting game beforehand pays off. Reassure children that adding money is just adding numbers with a pence symbol on the end.
Why coin recognition matters
Money is one of the most practical areas of early maths and a strong context for addition, place value and counting in steps. Recognising coins and finding totals also builds everyday confidence: handling change, saving in a piggy bank and understanding the value of things they want to buy. The Owee education team designs these printables to be accurate, calm and genuinely useful, so each sheet does one clear job well rather than crowding the page. This worksheet sits alongside our other free Key Stage 1 maths resources covering counting, addition and number bonds.
Frequently asked questions
What UK coins should a Year 1 child know?
By the end of Year 1, children are expected to recognise and know the value of the different coins they meet in everyday life, including the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p and 1 pound coins. This worksheet focuses on the lower-value coins so children can count totals in pence comfortably.
Is this worksheet free to print?
Yes. The worksheet is completely free and prints to a single A4 page. There is no sign-up, no email form and no download required, so you can use it straight away at home or in the classroom.
What age and key stage is this worksheet for?
It is designed for children aged 6 to 7 in Key Stage 1, covering Year 1 and Year 2. The money objectives map onto the National Curriculum measurement strand for these year groups.
How do I teach my child to add coins together?
Start with real coins so the values feel concrete, then encourage counting in twos, fives and tens rather than counting every penny. Model saying the running total aloud, and remind your child that a small coin can be worth more than a large one.
What comes after recognising coins?
The next step, usually in Year 2, is finding different combinations of coins that make the same amount and solving simple problems involving giving change. Once your child is confident with totals in pence, you can introduce these ideas using the same piggy-bank picture.
Curriculum links
- Year 1 Measurement: recognise and know the value of different denominations of coins and notes.
- Year 2 Measurement: find different combinations of coins that equal the same amounts of money.
- Year 2 Measurement: solve simple problems in a practical context involving addition and subtraction of money of the same unit, including giving change.
- Key Stage 1 Number: count in steps of 2, 5 and 10, supporting the addition of coin values.
Made by The Owee education team. Updated 02/06/2026. Free to print and share.
More learning, made playful
Owee turns topics like this into age-right quizzes for children aged 5 to 10, with a treehouse that grows as they learn. Three subjects are free, forever.
Get Owee free