The British decimal five pence (5p) coin - often pronounced five pee - is a unit of currency equalling five one-hundredths of a pound sterling.
 
After a review of the United Kingdom coinage in 1987, the Government announced its intention to issue a smaller 5p coin, which was first issued on 27 June 1990. The original (large) version of the five pence coin was demonetised together with the shilling and replaced by the smaller version, which retained the original design by Christopher Ironside.
 
The original design by Christopher Ironside features a crowned thistle (formally, The Badge of Scotland, a thistle royally crowned), with the numeral value 5 below the thistle, and the denomination NEW PENCE around above the thistle.
 
The obverse of the coin shows the crowned and draped young bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Second Portrait", by Arnold Machin).
The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Rank-Broadley and the Gottwald portraits.
 
Around, the monarch's legend and the date of issue: ELIZABETH · II D · G · REG · F · D · 1970.
Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith 1970.
 
This unique and valuabe 2008 coin is a prize addition to any coin collection especially for a British enthusiast.