Jersey 5 pence 1981 - Coat of Arms

The coin's story

Jersey's 5 new pence coin, put into circulation as early as 1968 with the same value as the old shilling, bears the island's arms. In 1981, the word NEW disappeared from the legend, which became FIVE PENCE, 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, before the series showing the island's monuments launched in 1983. The reverse shows George Kruger Gray's shield with three leopards, and the obverse Arnold Machin's portrait of Elizabeth II. This 23.6 mm module was demonetised on 31 December 1990, after the introduction of a smaller 5 pence coin.