Guernsey 2 new pence 1971 - Windmill

The coin's story

This 2 new pence coin dates from the very year Guernsey changed to the decimal system. In 1971 the island, along with the rest of the British Isles, abandoned the old system of the pound divided into 20 shillings of 12 pence, and the pound was henceforth divided into 100 pence. The 5, 10 and 50 new pence coins had already been circulating since 1968 and 1969, in 1971 the small denominations of ½, 1 and 2 new pence were added, replacing the old pence and the doubles, the island's own coinage since 1830. The 2 new pence coin was thus worth 4.8 old pence. Its reverse, engraved by Paul Vincze, shows a windmill. The obverse keeps the seal of the Bailiwick with the three leopards, which dates back to 1279 and King Edward I. In 1977 the word NEW was dropped from the inscriptions, but the windmill remained on the 2 pence coin until 1981.