Halfpenny (British pre-decimal coin) Facts for Kids

This page is about the British coin minted between 1672 and 1967. For the decimal halfpenny, see Halfpenny (British decimal coin). For the earlier history of the halfpenny, see History of the halfpenny.

Quick facts for kids
One old halfpenny
Obverse
United Kingdom
Value	1/2d sterling
Mass	(1860–1967) 5.67 g
Diameter	(1860–1967) 25.48 mm
Edge	Plain
Composition	(1672–1860) Copper (1860–1967) Bronze
Years of minting	1672–1967

Design	Profile of the monarch (Elizabeth II design shown)
Designer	Mary Gillick
Design date	1953
Reverse

Design	Golden Hind (Britannia on earlier mintages)
Designer	Thomas Humphrey Paget
Design date	1937

The British pre-decimal halfpenny, (pronounced /ˈheɪpəni/), once abbreviated ob. (from the Latin 'obulus'), was a denomination of sterling coinage worth 1/480 of one pound, 1/24 of one shilling, or 1/2 of one penny. Originally the halfpenny was minted in copper, but after 1860 it was minted in bronze. In the run-up to decimalisation, it ceased to be legal tender from 31 July 1969 (although halfpennies dated 1970 were minted as part of a final pre-decimal commemorative set). The halfpenny featured two different designs on its reverse during its years in circulation. From 1672 until 1936 the image of Britannia appeared on the reverse, and from 1937 onwards the image of the Golden Hind appeared. Like all British coinage, it bore the portrait of the monarch on the obverse.

"Halfpenny" was colloquially written ha'penny, and "1 1/2d" was spoken as "a penny ha’penny" /ə ˈpɛni ˈheɪpni/ or three ha'pence /θriː ˈheɪpəns/. "Halfpenny" is a rare example of a word in the English language that has a silent 'f'.

Before Decimal Day in 1971, sterling used the Carolingian monetary system, under which the largest unit was a pound divided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence. Each penny was further divided into 4 farthings, thus a pound contained 480 halfpennies and a shilling contained 24 halfpennies.

Design
Mintages
Terminology
See also

Design

Original reverse: 1717–1936

The original reverse of the bronze version of the coin, designed by Leonard Charles Wyon, is a seated Britannia, holding a trident, with the words HALF PENNY to either side. Issues before 1895 also feature a lighthouse to Britannia's left and a ship to her right. Various minor adjustments to the level of the sea depicted around Britannia, and the angle of her trident were also made over the years. Some issues feature toothed edges, while others feature beading.

Over the years, various different obverses were used. Edward VII, George V, George VI and Elizabeth II each had a single obverse for halfpennies produced during their respective reigns. Over the long reign of Queen Victoria two different obverses were used, but the short reign of Edward VIII meant no halfpennies bearing his likeness were ever issued.

During Victoria's reign, the halfpenny was first issued with the so-called 'bun head', or 'draped bust' of Queen Victoria on the obverse. The inscription around the bust read VICTORIA D G BRITT REG F D. This was replaced in 1895 by the 'old head', or 'veiled bust'. The inscription on these coins read VICTORIA DEI GRA BRITT REGINA FID DEF IND IMP.

Illustrated Chips comic in 1896, sold for a halfpenny

Coins issued during the reign of Edward VII feature his likeness and bear the inscription EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA BRITT OMN REX FID DEF IND IMP. Similarly, those issued during the reign of George V feature his likeness and bear the inscription GEORGIVS V DEI GRA BRITT OMN REX FID DEF IND IMP.

A halfpenny of King Edward VIII (1936) does exist, dated 1937, but technically it is a pattern coin i.e. one produced for official approval; it would probably have been due to receive this approval at about the time that the King abdicated. The obverse shows a left-facing portrait of the king (who considered this to be his better side, and consequently broke the tradition of alternating the direction in which the monarch faces on coins – some viewed this as indicating bad luck for the reign); the inscription on the obverse is EDWARDVS VIII D G BR OMN REX F D IND IMP.

The pattern coin of Edward VIII and regular issue halfpennies of George VI and Elizabeth II feature a redesigned reverse displaying Sir Francis Drake's ship the Golden Hind.

A 1937 half penny (reverse), depicting the Golden Hind.

George VI issue coins feature the inscription GEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN REX F D IND IMP before 1949, and GEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN REX FIDEI DEF thereafter. Unlike the penny, halfpennies were minted throughout the early reign of Elizabeth II, bearing the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRA BRITT OMN REGINA F D in 1953, and ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F D thereafter.

Mintages

Victoria (Veiled bust)
1895 ~ 3,032,000 1896 ~ 9,143,000 1897 ~ 8,690,000 1898 ~ 8,595,000 1899 ~ 12,108,000 1900 ~ 13,805,000 1901 ~ 11,127,000

Edward VII
1902 ~ 13,673,000 1903 ~ 11,451,000 1904 ~ 8,131,000 1905 ~ 10,125,000 1906 ~ 11,101,000 1907 ~ 16,849,000 1908 ~ 16,620,999 1909 ~ 8,279,000 1910 ~ 10,770,000

George V

1911 ~ 12,571,000
1912 ~ 21,186,000
1913 ~ 17,476,000
1914 ~ 20,289,000
1915 ~ 21,563,000
1916 ~ 39,386,000
1917 ~ 38,245,000
1918 ~ 22,321,000
1919 ~ 28,104,000
1920 ~ 35,147,000
1921 ~ 28,027,000
1922 ~ 10,735,000
1923 ~ 12,266,000
1924 ~ 13,971,000
1925 ~ 12,216,000
1926 ~ 6,712,000
1927 ~ 15,590,000
1928 ~ 20,935,000
1929 ~ 25,680,000
1930 ~ 12,533,000
1931 ~ 16,138,000
1932 ~ 14,448,000
1933 ~ 10,580,000
1934 ~ 7,704,000
1935 ~ 12,180,000
1936 ~ 22,009,000

George VI
1937 ~ 24,504,000 1938 ~ 40,320,000 1939 ~ 28,925,000 1940 ~ 32,162,000 1941 ~ 45,120,000 1942 ~ 71,909,000 1943 ~ 76,200,000 1944 ~ 81,840,000 1945 ~ 57,000,000 1946 ~ 22,726,000 1947 ~ 21,226,000 1948 ~ 26,947,000 1949 ~ 24,744,000 1950 ~ 24,154,000 1951 ~ 14,868,000 1952 ~ 33,278,000

Elizabeth II
1953 ~ 8,926,000 1954 ~ 19,375,000 1955 ~ 18,799,000 1956 ~ 21,799,000 1957 ~ 43,684,000 1958 ~ 62,318,000 1959 ~ 79,176,000 1960 ~ 41,340,000 1962 ~ 41,779,000 1963 ~ 45,036,000 1964 ~ 78,583,000 1965 ~ 98,083,000 1966 ~ 95,289,000 1967 ~ 146,491,000 1970 ~ 750,000 (souvenir sets only)

Terminology

Ha’porth: British English i.e. 'halfpenny-worth' or 'halfpennyworth' pronounced /ˈheɪpəθ/.

In literal use usually written out in full although still never pronounced phonetically: e.g. "A halfpennyworth of chips." In figurative use usually said disparagingly: e.g. "I've been dying for somebody with a ha’porth of wit and intelligence to talk to." "…and saying it doesn't make a halfpennyworth of difference!" (from Alan Bennett's A lady of Letters, written and produced in 1987, some sixteen years after decimalisation and three years after the New Halfpenny—(i.e. the decimal 1/2p)—had been demonetised and withdrawn from circulation, thus further illustrating the continued traditional or idiomatic two-syllable pronunciation). Also used in the once common phrase: "daft ha’porth."

Halfpenny (British pre-decimal coin) facts for kids

Contents

Design

Mintages

Terminology

See also