Halfpenny

In the brief reign of King Edward VIII, the only coins to be issued for circulation were for overseas territories. The coin on offer is the Halfpence for British West Africa. The Halfpence is the most difficult denomination to get. These coins were struck in Birmingham at the Kings Norton Mint and carry the KN mintmark. The coins are in Uncirculated condition and the KN is the most difficult of the Halfpennies to find.

One of the most difficult denominations to get, in Uncirculated condition, is the Halfpenny. It was a denomination that was regularly used and thus usually comes in circulated condition. We went through one of our vault rooms and found a box of 1953 Coronation Halfpennies in Uncirculated condition taken from the Mint Set of that year; they came out of a plastic folder. Over the past 65 years, they have mellowed a bit, but they have never seen circulation. Years ago we offered the 1953 Penny and that quickly sold out; we expect the same thing to happen on the Coronation halfpenny.

Bronze Halfpenny dated 1958 in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.

Bronze Halfpenny dated 1960 in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.

Bronze Halfpenny dated 1964 in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.

Bronze Halfpenny dated 1966 in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.

The pre-decimal Halfpenny was known as the Golden Hind Halfpenny, because the reverse depicts Sir Francis Drake’s ship the Golden Hind. We have always liked the halfpenny, partly because of its design and partly because so few collectors have them, that they are in fact difficult to find in the high grades. The coin on offer is the 1959 British Golden Hind Halfpenny in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. They catalogue doesn’t list this as a difficult coin to find in Brilliant Uncirculated, but it is. We have a small group that was put away 60 years ago and they are Brilliant Uncirculated coins.

A plate with the obverse and reverse of the last Halfpenny 1967. The reverse engraved 'Halfpenny the last struck at Tower Hill December 31st 1968'. Uncirculated and most unusual, I just don't what to make of it

George III (1760-1820), Halfpenny 1771. Laureate and cuirassed bust right. Reverse, Britannia seated left, date below in exergue.

During the reign of King George III there was a great shortage of small change. The last type of Halfpenny issued for this Monarch were struck in 1806 and 1807. We recently purchased a nice group of the 1806 issue, the first year of issue in Fine and Very Fine condition. You have the bust of King George III dressed as a Roman on one side and the seated figure of Britannia on the other side. These were the last copper George III halfpennies issued. After the Currency Reform Act of 1816, they didn’t bother to issue any halfpennies.

The coinage of King George III is rather strange, it is broken up into two sections, before the Currency Reform Act and after the Currency Reform Act. This Act was passed because of the shortage of coins, which the King because of his illness refused to allow to be made. So what did they do, after the Currency Reform Act of 1816 they struck Silver coins but did not bother to strike copper coins…! So the last design of King George III Halfpennies was issued in 1806 and 1807. It has the King’s bust with lauriate wreath on one side and a seated Britannia on the other side. These are the last George III Halfpences ever to be struck and they were struck in copper. In Very Good condition, which means that they have seen considerable wear

George IV (1820-30), Halfpenny 1826

Obverse: Laureate head facing left, Reverse: Britannia seated with shield and trident. About Uncirculated but a few small edge nicks.

1937 saw a big change in the design of the halfpennies with the reverse depicting Britannia redesigned to display Sir Francis Drake’s ship “The Golden Hind”. As with the farthings, the titles in the legends were changed in 1949. Here we present the 1937-48 Halfpenny in Brilliant Uncirculated concition. Dates will be of our choice.

1937 saw a big change in the design of the halfpennies with the reverse depicting Britannia redesigned to display Sir Francis Drake’s ship “The Golden Hind”. As with the farthings, the titles in the legends were changed in 1949. Here we present the 1937-48 Halfpenny in Uncirculated concition. Dates will be of our choice.

1937 saw a big change in the design of the halfpennies with the reverse depicting Britannia redesigned to display Sir Francis Drake’s ship “The Golden Hind”. As with the farthings, the titles in the legends were changed in 1949. Here we present the 1949-52 Halfpenny in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. Dates will be of our choice.

1937 saw a big change in the design of the halfpennies with the reverse depicting Britannia redesigned to display Sir Francis Drake’s ship “The Golden Hind”. As with the farthings, the titles in the legends were changed in 1949. Here we present the 1949-52 Halfpenny in Uncirculated concition. Dates will be of our choice.

Bronze Halfpenny dated 1942 in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.

Bronze Halfpenny dated 1944 in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.

Bronze Halfpenny dated 1952 in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. The last halfpenny of George VI's reign.

Bronze halfpenny featuring King George VI from 1937; condition is uncirculated

Bronze Halfpenny dated 1943 in Uncirculated condition.

We believe the bronze coins of King George VI are much underappreciated. The farthings are easy to get, but try and get nice Pennies and Halfpennies. Here we are offering a George VI Halfpenny from 1937 in between uncirculated & brilliant uncirculated condition.

We believe the bronze coins of King George VI are much underappreciated. The farthings are easy to get, but try and get nice Pennies and Halfpennies. Here we are offering a George VI Halfpenny from 1938 in between uncirculated & brilliant uncirculated condition.

Bronze halfpenny featuring King George VI from 1942; condition somewhere between uncirculated and brilliant uncirculated.