Summary

1/2 Penny, Issued by New Zealand, 1953
Minted by Royal Mint, London

Obverse Description

Laureate bust right; around, + QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND; artist's initials incuse on neck truncation, MG (Mary Gillick)

Reverse Description

At centre, between two Maori scroll designs, a tiki; around, NEW ZEALAND HALF PENNY; below, 1953

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

On the death of King George VI in 1952, Princess Elizabeth became Elizabeth II. She was Head of the Commonwealth and queen of seven independent Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon. Her coronation was held on 2 June 1953 and her portrait, by Mary Gillick, appears on the New Zealand coinage from that year.

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