George VI, Halfpenny 1949 Brilliant Unc

Bronze Halfpenny dated 1943 in Uncirculated condition.

In 1951, to celebrate the end of austerity after World War II, the British Government held a ‘Festival of Britain’ on the South Bank in London. They also issued a special Crown for King George VI, only the second crown struck for this monarch in this country. The first was struck for his Coronation in 1937 and that was half silver, this second and last crown was struck in Prooflike cupronickel. You have the bare head of the King on one side and St. George slaying the dragon on the other side. This is supplied with one of the original card cases that the crown was issued in 1951. The coins are Uncirculated but the card cases have seen a little bit of wear. After all, even a card case was a luxury at that time. Some marketing companies are charging £30.00 plus £4.95 extra for a card case. We think our price is a bit more reasonable.

In 1960 the Royal Mint issued a Crown for the British Exhibition in New York. We have always thought that some of the coins were actually struck in New York but we have been told that this is not the case and they were all struck in this country. What we do know is that a very small number of the 1960 crowns were struck in Prooflike Uncirculated condition, rather than in the normal matt Uncirculated. These Prooflike Crowns are difficult to get and it has taken us some time to put this little group together. On the obverse, you have H. M. Queen Elizabeth II and on the reverse, you have four shields of arms. According to Krause less than 7% of the coins struck were in Prooflike Uncirculated condition. Get them while our small supply lasts, we don’t know anyone who has any quantity of these available.