The British decimal five pence coin is a denomination of sterling coinage of a pound. Its obverse has featured the profile of Queen Elizabeth II since the coin’s introduction on 23 April 1968, replacing the shilling in preparation for decimalisation in 1971. It remained the same size as the one shilling coin, which also remained legal tender, until a smaller version was introduced in June 1990 with the older coins being withdrawn on 31 December 1990. Four different portraits of the Queen have been used, with the latest design by Jody Clark being introduced in 2015. The second and current reverse, featuring a segment of the Royal Shield, was introduced in 2008.

The five pence coin was originally minted in cupro-nickel composition, but since 2011 it has been minted in nickel-plated steel due to the increasing price of metal. From January 2013, the Royal Mint began a programme to gradually remove the previous cupro-nickel coins from circulation with replacement by the nickel-plated steel versions.

The original reverse of the coin, designed by Christopher Ironside, and used from 1968 to 2008, is a crowned thistle, The Badge of Scotland, a thistle royally crowned.

To date, three different obverses have been used. In the original design, both sides of the coin are encircled by dots, a common feature on coins, known as beading.

As with all new decimal currency, until 1984 the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin appeared on the obverse, in which the Queen wears the 'Girls of Great Britain and Ireland' Tiara.

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary 1926 – 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 

6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and was head of state of 15 realms at the time of her death. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days was the longest of any British monarch and the longest verified reign of any female head of state in history.

OBVERSE : The second crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, legend around.

Lettering: ELIZABETH·II D·G·REG·F·D·1979

Latin: Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensatrix

Translation: Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God Queen Defender of the Faith

Designer: Arnold Machin

REVERSE :  The Badge of Scotland, a thistle royally crowned, legend above, denomination below.

Lettering: NEW PENCE 5

Designer: Christopher Ironside 

EDGE : Smooth

Designer: Arnold Machin OBE RA FRSS (1911–1999)British artist, sculptor, and coin and postage stamp designer)

Designer: Christopher Ironside awarded OBE (English painter and coin designer, 1913-1992)

Mint: Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom 

Struck in 1979 155 456 000

Country                  United Kingdom 

Issuer                    The Royal Mint

Queen                   Elizabeth II (1952-2022)

Type                     Standard circulation coin

Years                1968-1981

Value                  5 Pence 

Currency              Pound sterling (decimalized since 1971)

Composition          Copper-nickel (75% Cu, 25% Ni)

Weight                 5.598 g

Diameter            23.59 mm

Thickness           1.78 mm

Shape                   Round

Orientation          Medal alignment ↑↑

Demonetized          31 December 1990

References         KM# 911, Sp# D1