Jersey ½ new penny 1971 - Coat of Arms

The coin's story

On 15 February 1971, Jersey changed to the decimal system at the same time as the United Kingdom: the pound no longer counted 240 pence but 100 new pence. The bronze ½ new penny was the smallest of the new coins, worth 1.2 old pence. The reverse shows George Kruger Gray's shield of Jersey with three leopards, and the obverse Arnold Machin's portrait of Elizabeth II. In 1971, the Royal Mint struck 3,000,000 pieces. The type was only struck again in 1980, with 200,000 pieces, then became HALF PENNY in 1981. Having become too small in value, this 17.1 mm coin was demonetised on 18 February 1985.