Half crown (British coin) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Half crown

United Kingdom
Value	£0.125 Two shillings and sixpence
Mass	1816–1970: 14.14 g
Diameter	1816–1970: 32.31 mm
Edge	Milled
Composition	1816–1919: 92.5% Ag 1920–1946: 50% Ag 1947–1970: Cupronickel
Years of minting	1707–1970
Obverse
Design	Profile of the monarch (Elizabeth II design shown)
Designer	Mary Gillick
Design date	1953
Reverse
Design	Various (crowned Royal Shield shown)
Designer	Edgar Fuller and Cecil Thomas
Design date	1967

The British half crown was a special coin. It was part of the old British money system. This coin was worth one-eighth of a pound. You could also say it was two shillings and six pence. People often called it "two and six."

The first half crown coins were made in 1549. This was during the time of King Edward VI. After that, half crowns were made during almost every king and queen's rule. They were made until 1970.

The half crown was stopped being used on January 1, 1970. This happened just before the UK changed to decimal currency. That change was called Decimal Day. Even during the time when England had no king (1649–1660), half crowns were made. These coins showed the symbols of the Commonwealth of England. Later, when Oliver Cromwell was in charge, coins showed his picture. He wore a laurel wreath, like a Roman Emperor. The half crown coin did not show its value until 1893. In the 1900s, some people called the coin "half-a-dollar."

A Look at Half Crowns Through History

A gold half crown from Queen Elizabeth I, made in 1580 or 1581.

This half crown was made for King Charles I. It was created during a war siege in Newark.

• King Henry VIII (1526): The very first English half crown was made. It was a gold coin.
• King Edward VI (1551): The first silver half crown was made. It had the king riding a horse.
• Queen Mary I: A half crown was made for her marriage in 1554. But it was never used by people. Only three of these coins still exist.
• Queen Elizabeth I: Gold half crowns were made again. Later, silver half crowns were also made.
• King James I: Gold half crowns were made once more. Silver half crowns were also made during his rule.
• King Charles I: Silver half crowns were made. Some were made during the English Civil War. These were emergency coins.
• Commonwealth of England: Oliver Cromwell had silver half crowns made. Some were special "milled" coins.
• King Charles II (1663–1685): Silver half crowns were made. This was when the old "hammered" coins stopped being made.
• King James II (1685–1688): Silver half crowns were made.
• King William III & Queen Mary II (1689–1694): Silver half crowns were made.
• William III of England (1694–1702): Silver half crowns continued to be made.
• Queen Anne (1702–1714): Silver half crowns were made.
• King George I (1714–1727): Silver half crowns were made.
• King George II (1727–1760): Silver half crowns were made.
• King George III (1760–1820): Silver half crowns were made.
• King George IV (1820–1830): Silver half crowns were made.
• King William IV (1830–1837): Silver half crowns were made.
• Queen Victoria (1837–1901): Silver half crowns were made.
• King Edward VII (1902–1910): Silver half crowns were made.
• King George V (1910–1936): Silver half crowns were made. Until 1919, they were 92.5% silver. After that, they were 50% silver.
• King Edward VIII (1936): A 50% silver half crown was made. But it was not used by the public.
• King George VI (1937–1952): 50% silver half crowns were made until 1946. Then, the metal changed to cupro-nickel.
• Queen Elizabeth II (1953–1967): The last half crown for everyday use was made in 1967. The coin was officially stopped in 1970. Special collector sets were made in 1970.

How Big Were Half Crowns?

From 1816, during King George III's time, half crowns had a certain size. They were about 32 millimeters wide. They weighed 14.14 grams. These measurements stayed the same for the half crown. They did not change until the UK switched to decimal money in 1971.

How Many Half Crowns Were Made?

The table below shows how many half crowns were made each year. These numbers come from the Coin Yearbook in the UK.

Gallery

• 

  Edward VI half-crown, 1552

• 

  Gold half crown of James I

• 

  Charles I half-crown

• 

  Half crown coin of Oliver Cromwell, 1658

• 

  Half crown of Charles II, 1680

• 

  Half crown of James II, 1687

• 

  Half crown of 1691: William III and Mary II

• 

  Half crown of William III, 1696

• 

  Half crown of Queen Anne

• 

  Half crown of George II, 1746

• 

  Half crown of George III, 1816

• 

  Half crown of George IV, 1821

• 

  Half crown of William IV, 1836

• 

  Half-crown of Victoria, 1885

• 

  Half-crown of Victoria, 1888

• 

  The reverse of the 1905, Edward VII, half crown

• 

  George V half crown, 1930

• 

  George VI half crown, 1948

• 

  The obverse of the 1953, Elizabeth II, half crown

• 

  The reverse of the 1953, Elizabeth II, half crown

See also

• Half crown (Irish coin)