Issuer United Kingdom

Queen Elizabeth II (1952-2022)

Type Standard circulation coins

Years 1968-1981

Value 5 Pence (0.05 GBP)

Currency Pound sterling (decimalized, 1971-date)

Composition Copper-nickel (75% Cu, 25% Ni)

Weight 5.65 g

Diameter 23.59 mm

Thickness 1.78 mm

Shape Round

Technique Milled

Orientation Medal alignment

Demonetized 31 December 1990

Obverse

Second crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, legend around.

Script: Latin

Lettering: ELIZABETH·II D·G·REG·F·D·1970

Unabridged legend: Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensatrix

Translation: Elizabeth II by the Grace of God Queen Defender of the Faith

Designer: Arnold Machin

Reverse

The Badge of Scotland, a thistle royally crowned, legend above, denomination below.

Script: Latin

Lettering:

NEW PENCE

5

Designer: Christopher Ironside

Edge

Milled

Due to the vast quantity required for the decimal changeover and the fact that the Mint was moving from Tower Hill, London to Llantrisant, Wales the coins were minted at both mints during 1968 -1972. No coins were minted in South Wales during 1968, while 82,000,00 (Royal Mint Annual Report 1968 Volume No.99 Image 36 - The Royal Mint Museum) were minted at Tower Hill. During 1969 again there were no coins minted in South Wales, while at Tower Hill 82,660,000 were minted. In 1970 Llantrisant minted 53,200,000 coins while 69,477,350 were minted at Tower Hill, between 1971 & 1972 there were 212,222,000 coins minted at Llantrisant while 5,954,000 were minted at Tower Hill.

Christopher Ironside designed all six new denominations for decimalisation, for which he was awarded the OBE in 1971.