Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 New Pence 1971-1981, KM# 916, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II
  • 2 New Pence 1971-1981, KM# 916, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II
Obverse

Second crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara.

The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara was a wedding present in 1947 from her grandmother, Queen Mary, who received it as a gift from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland in 1893 on the occasion of her marriage to the Duke of York, later George V. Made by E. Wolfe & Co., it was purchased from Garrard & Co. by a committee organised by Lady Eve Greville. In 1914, Mary adapted the tiara to take 13 diamonds in place of the large oriental pearls surmounting the tiara. At first, Elizabeth wore the tiara without its base and pearls but the base was reattached in 1969. The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara is one of Elizabeth's most recognisable pieces of jewellery due to its widespread use on British banknotes and coinage.

ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FIDEI DEFENSATRIX means Elizabeth II, by the grace of God, Queen and Defender of the Faith.

Engraver: Arnold Machin

ELIZABETH·II D·G·REG·F·D·1977

Reverse

The Prince of Wales's feathers within a coronet above the German motto ICH DIEN (I serve).

The Prince of Wales's feathers is the heraldic badge of the Prince of Wales. It consists of three white ostrich feathers emerging from a gold coronet. A ribbon below the coronet bears the motto Ich dien (German for "I serve"). As well as being used in royal heraldry, the badge is sometimes used to symbolise Wales.

Engraver: Christopher Ironside

NEW PENCE
ICH DIEN
2

Edge

2 New Pence

2nd portrait
KM# 916 Sp# C1
Characteristics
Material Bronze
Weight 7.12 g
Diameter 25.9 mm
Thickness 1.85 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal

Related coins

2nd portrait

Cupronickel, 10.76 g, ⌀ 31 mm

Bronze, 4.19 g
4th portrait, Gold Britannia

Gold, 17.025 g, ⌀ 27 mm