Coin

½ New Penny - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait (1975) — United Kingdom

United Kingdom • 1975 • KM# 914, Sp# A1

½ New Penny - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait (1975) — United Kingdom

Overview

United Kingdom ½ New Penny coin from 1975, Proof.

Specifications

Country
United Kingdom
Year
1975
Composition
Bronze (97% Cu, 2.5% Zn, 0.5% Sn)
Weight
1.78 g
Diameter
17.14 mm
Thickness
1.07 mm
Mint
Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom (1968-date)
Shape
Round
Technique
Milled
References
KM# 914, Sp# A1
Issuer
United Kingdom

Design details

Obverse

Second crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, legend around. Script: Latin. Lettering: ELIZABETH-II D-G-REG-F-D-1971. Unabridged legend: Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensatrix. Translation: Elizabeth II by the Grace of God Queen Defender of the Faith.

Reverse

Central crown of St. Edward, denomination in letters above and numerals below. Script: Latin. Lettering: NEW PENNY ½.

Collector insights

  • Design heritage: Arnold Machin (obverse), Christopher Ironside (reverse) is credited as the designer for the Standard circulation coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
  • Struck at: Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom (1968-date). Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
  • Mintage vs. survival: A moderate mintage of 100,000. Grade rarity is usually the driver of value here — mid-grade circulated pieces are common, but original-surface uncirculated coins can command a strong premium.
  • Catalogue reference: Listed as KM# 914, Sp# A1. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.

Curator Insights

Historical context

The 1975 half new penny was struck during the transitional decade following the United Kingdom's 1971 decimalization. This denomination was introduced to provide a fine-grained price point equivalent to 1.2 old pence, though its utility diminished as inflation rose throughout the 1970s. The 1975 issue represents a standard circulation year produced by the Royal Mint at the Llantrisant facility in Wales.

Design heritage

The obverse features the second decimal portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin, characterized by the use of the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara. Christopher Ironside designed the reverse, which depicts the St. Edward’s Crown. This specific pairing of motifs was standardized across the smallest denomination of the new currency system to emphasize national identity during the monetary shift.

Varieties and technical notes

Collectors typically differentiate between the brilliant uncirculated strikings found in annual mint sets and the standard circulation finishes. While the edge is plain and the shape is round, specialists often examine the alignment of the crown on the reverse for minor die rotation typical of high-volume bronze minting. Proof versions were also produced for inclusion in the year's prestige collector sets.

Survival and modern availability

Despite a significant mintage for the series, the half penny was eventually demonetized in December 1984 due to its low purchasing power. Many examples were returned to the mint for melting or lost to general circulation attrition over the decade it remained legal tender. High-grade specimens are most frequently recovered from preserved mint sets rather than from surviving circulation hoards.

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Other ½ New Penny - Elizabeth II 2nd portrait issues

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