| Coin | Five Pence 1984 (mint sets only) |
|---|
|
The British decimal five pence (5p) coin - often pronounced five pee - is a unit of currency equalling five one-hundredths of a pound sterling.
The coin was first issued in 1968 before the currency was decimalised, to circulate in parallel with the one shilling coin it eventually replaced. Its dimensions were the same as those of the shilling, and the shilling remained current after 1970, re-denominated as five new pence.
After a review of the United Kingdom coinage in 1987, the Government announced its intention to issue a smaller 5p coin, which was first issued on 27 June 1990. The original (large) version of the five pence coin was demonetised together with the shilling and replaced by the smaller version, which retained the original design by Christopher Ironside.
The large five pence coins were minted from cupronickel (75% Cu, 25% Ni). No five pence coins were issued for circulation in 1984.
Some were struck for the Royal Mint coins sets of the year (158,820 in brilliant uncirculated sets and 106,520 in proof sets). |
|
|
| Obverse | |
|---|
The obverse of the coin shows the crowned and draped young bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Second Portrait", by Arnold Machin).
The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Rank-Broadley and the Gottwald portraits.
Around, the monarch's legend and the date of issue: ELIZABETH · II D · G · REG · F · D · 1984. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith 1984.
|
|
|
| Reverse | |
|---|
The original design by Christopher Ironside features a crowned thistle (formally, The Badge of Scotland, a thistle royally crowned), with the numeral value 5 below the thistle, and the denomination and value in words: FIVE PENCE around above the thistle. |
|
| Reverse Inscription |
5 FIVE PENCE |
|---|
|
| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
|
|
Search for United Kingdom: Five Pence 1984 (mint sets only) on eBay 