50 Pence - Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth's 70th Birthday

Saint Helena issued this piece under the authority it has held as a British Overseas Territory, producing commemorative coinage largely for collector markets rather than local circulation — the island's small population and remote position in the South Atlantic have always made large commemorative runs economically absurd in any genuine transactional sense. The Royal Mint has handled production for most Saint Helena issues of this period.

Queen Elizabeth II turned 70 on April 21, 1996, making this one of several Commonwealth and territory issues that year marking the occasion.