The Half penny (1/2d), pronounced as ha'penny, was successfully introduced under Edward I as part of the new coinage. It was an important and much-needed denomination. Before the issue was introduced traders produced half pennies by cutting penny coins in half, which was obviously impractical in some cases and often inconvenient. The new denomination issued under Edward I allowed trade to increase and facilitated the country’s prosperity.
The hammered coinage of the Half penny usually depicted the king on the obverse and the long cross with three pellets on the reverse. Most halfpennies from hammered reigns tend to be difficult to identify. Most coins are small, often clipped, or in poor condition. Moreover many appear to have blundered legends due to the difficulty in making dies small enough for the denomination.
In 1672 during the reign of Charles II, and due to the need for coins of low denomination, the first milled half pennies came into circulation. The coins depicted Britannia on the reverse, modelled by the Duchess of Richmond, and the king on the obverse. Originally the coin was minted in copper, but after 1860 in the reign of Queen Victoria, the denomination was henceforth minted in bronze.
In 1936 George VI ascended to the throne and during his reign, in 1937, yet another significant change was introduced. This time it was the design that changed. The image of Britannia was no longer to be present in the coin. Instead, the reverse featured a three-masted sailing ship. The ship is said to represent Sir Francis Drake’s ship, the ‘Golden Hind’, and was symbolic of Britain ‘ruling the waves'. Perhaps that might be the reason why it was chosen to replace Britannia on the Half penny.
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.
When Queen Anne died there were no living relatives to take over the monarchy, so we went to Germany for our new King. George I was from Brunswig-Luneburg-Calenberg-Hanover. He didn’t like living here and didn’t speak English so he spent most of his time in Germany. We have these George I Copper Halfpennies available in Fair condition. Dates will be of our choice, just as they come out of the box. These coins are now about 300 years old and were only struck for 8 years so are not easy to get. Supplies are very limited.
When Queen Anne died there were no living relatives to take over the monarchy, so we went to Germany for our new King. George I was from Brunswig-Luneburg-Calenberg-Hanover. He didn’t like living here and didn’t speak English so he spent most of his time in Germany. We have these George I Copper Farthings available in Fair condition. Dates will be of our choice, just as they come out of the box. These coins are now about 300 years old and not easy to get. Supplies are very limited.
When Queen Anne died there were no living relatives to take over the monarchy, so we went to Germany for our new King. George I was from Brunswig-Luneburg-Calenberg-Hanover. He didn’t like living here and didn’t speak English so he spent most of his time in Germany. We have these George I Copper Halfpennies available in Fair condition. Dates will be of our choice, just as they come out of the box. These coins are now about 300 years old and not easy to get. Supplies are very limited.
The George II Old Head Halfpenny was only issued from 1742-1754, so the newest coin is over 250 years old. This is the second type of King George II Halfpenny, issued toward the end of his reign. You have the bust of the King wearing a laurel wreath with a seated Britannia on the other side. The coin is struck in copper and it is getting more difficult to find.
The George II Old Head Halfpenny was only issued from 1742-1754, so the newest coin is over 250 years old. This is the second type of King George II Halfpenny, issued toward the end of his reign. You have the bust of the King wearing a laurel wreath with a seated Britannia on the other side. All coins are struck in copper and offered in Fair condition and are getting more difficult to find.
We found some King George II Old Head Halfpennies (1746-1754) in Fine condition. Which considering their age this is well above average condition. Dates will be of our choice, but order more than one and we will try and give you different dates. They are struck in copper which is thicker than the later bronze issue and remember they are at least 268 years old!
Counterfeit George III halfpennies from the 1770s are intriguing coins from a time of economic turmoil in Britain. These forgeries, often made from base metals and sometimes lighter than the genuine copper halfpennies were created to address a shortage of small change. Despite their unofficial nature, they circulated widely and are often almost identical to the genuine ones. These counterfeits are just as fascinating and widely collected as genuine halfpennies and serve as a reminder of the ingenuity and resourcefulness during a period of economic hardship. We have a small group available in Fine condition, better than usually seen.
Counterfeit George III halfpennies from the 1770s are intriguing coins from a time of economic turmoil in Britain. These forgeries, often made from base metals and sometimes lighter than the genuine copper halfpennies were created to address a shortage of small change. Despite their unofficial nature, they circulated widely and are often almost identical to the genuine ones. These counterfeits are just as fascinating and widely collected as genuine halfpennies and serve as a reminder of the ingenuity and resourcefulness during a period of economic hardship. We have a small group available in Very Fine condition, better than usually seen.
In 1799 for the first time the Halfpenny coins were struck on a steam driven press. The invention of James Watt and Mathew Boulton. The coins were thicker than the previous coins, had a high rim and a beaded edge. You have the bust of King George III on one side and a seated figure of Britannia on the other side. The coins are struck in copper rather than the later ones which used bronze. It was a relatively common coin because it was the second lowest denomination made. But over the years the supplies have dried up. From a Midlands dealer we were able to buy a nice parcel. They are used but in Very Good. Remember they are the first Halfpennies struck on a steam press and this design was used for only one year 1799.
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.
During the reign of King George III there was a great shortage of small change. The last type of Halfpenny issued for this Monarch was 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
They were struck in Copper for only three years (1825-1827) which explains why they are missing from many collections. They were popular coins for everyday trading, as such they saw a lot of use until the Copper coins were taken out of circulation in the 1860s. It’s been almost 12 years since we were able to offer these wonderful halfpennies of George IV, and it’s the first time we’ve accumulated enough numbers to offer them in Fine, but get in there quickly, stocks are limited.
They were struck in Copper for only three years (1825-1827) which explains why they are missing from many collections. They were popular coins for everyday trading, as such they saw a lot of use until the Copper coins were taken out of circulation in the 1860s. It’s been almost 12 years since we were able to offer these wonderful halfpennies of George IV, and it’s the first time we’ve accumulated enough numbers to offer them in Fair, but get in there quickly, stocks are limited.
They were struck in Copper for only three years (1825-1827) which explains why they are missing from many collections. They were popular coins for everyday trading, as such they saw a lot of use until the Copper coins were taken out of circulation in the 1860s. It’s been almost 12 years since we were able to offer these wonderful halfpennies of George IV, and it’s the first time we’ve accumulated enough numbers to offer them in Very Good, but get in there quickly, stocks are limited.
They were struck in Copper for only three years (1825-1827) which explains why they are missing from many collections. They were popular coins for everyday trading, as such they saw a lot of use until the Copper coins were taken out of circulation in the 1860s. It’s been almost 12 years since we were able to offer these wonderful halfpennies of George IV, and it’s the first time we’ve accumulated enough numbers to offer them in Fine, but get in there quickly, stocks are limited.
The pre-decimal Ha’ penny was also used to play Shove Ha’penny, a once very popular pub game in the UK. Read our blog post about the Shove Ha’penny game to learn more about this traditional game played with 10 coins and a board.
Don’t miss out on Half Penny Coins for Sale
We have available for sale pre-decimal Half pennies, as well as decimal half pennies. Visit the Decimal Half pence sub-category under the category of decimal coins to purchase decimal half pennies.
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