1/2 Penny - George V smaller portrait

The smaller portrait introduced in 1928 was the work of Bertram Mackennal, who reduced his own earlier effigy of George V — the larger version had drawn persistent complaints that it crowded the coin's field uncomfortably. The change was administrative rather than celebratory, driven by the Mint's aesthetic dissatisfaction rather than any royal directive.

George V died in January 1936, making the final year of this type exceptionally short-lived in production terms.