George V was the monarch who was never meant to be king, as he became heir to the throne after the death of his elder brother, Prince Albert Victor. Following the outbreak of the First World War and its aftermath, George V’s reign had an influential impact on the making of modern Britain. 

One of the oldest denominations, the penny can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxons. When it was first used in circulation it was a silver penny, but the size of the coin gradually became smaller and base metals were used instead. 

This coin is also available as part of The Making of Modern Britain George V Bundle, which offers collectors the opportunity to own an example of each of the circulating coins of George V’s reign.