The inscriptions along the rim: title of Queen, the year of minting. In the center - bust of queen Elizabeth II right (portrait by Arnold Machin in which she wears the 'Girls of Great Britain and Ireland' Tiara).

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, born 21 April 1926) became Queen of the United Kingdom on 6 February 1952.

Word denomination, crowned portcullis, figure '1'.

A portcullis is a gate made of wood, metal or a combination of the two.

The British decimal one penny coin, produced by the Royal Mint, was issued on 15 February 1971, the day the British currency was decimalised.