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5 Pounds - Elizabeth II Decimalisation, Silver proof
| Issuer | Guernsey |
|---|---|
| Year | 2021 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
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| Reverse description | A selective gold-plated central design depicting an array of pre-decimal British coins — including crowns, shillings, and pennies — arranged to evoke the coinage in circulation prior to decimalisation. Surrounding the coins, a conversion table translates pre-decimal shilling values into their decimal equivalents, commemorating the transition of 15 February 1971. The legend 50TH ANNIVERSARY DECIMALISATION arcs across the upper field, with the date 15 FEBRUARY 1971 inscribed below, referencing the historic introduction of decimal currency. The gold plating on the coin motifs contrasts with the frosted silver fields, creating a rich visual distinction between the design elements and the background. |
| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Issued to mark the fiftieth anniversary of British decimal currency, introduced on 15 February 1971 — a date the Treasury had been working toward since the Halsbury Committee recommended decimalisation in 1963. The eight-year lead time was considered the minimum needed to retool vending machines, reprinting price lists, and retrain a public deeply accustomed to 240 pence to the pound.
Guernsey had its own wrinkle: the Bailiwick had operated a distinct local coinage for centuries and used the transition as an opportunity to consolidate under a fully metricated series, quietly retiring several denominations with no equivalent in the new system.