Jersey ½ penny 1981 - Coat of Arms

The coin's story

Jersey's ½ new penny coin, introduced in 1971 with the change to the decimal system, bears the island's arms. In 1981, the word NEW disappeared from the legend, which became HALF PENNY, and the date moved to either side of the shield, one year before the United Kingdom also removed the word NEW from its coins. This type was struck in that year only, with 50,000 pieces for circulation and 6,000 in proof. It is also Jersey's last ½ penny: the series showing the island's monuments launched in 1983 does not include one. The reverse shows George Kruger Gray's shield with three leopards, and the obverse Arnold Machin's portrait of Elizabeth II. Having become too small in value, this 17.1 mm coin was demonetised on 18 February 1985, shortly after the British ½ penny.