020 7636 1188 info [at] coincraft.com
You have no items in your shopping cart.
Half Penny
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.
View as
Sort by
Display per page
Elizabeth II, Halfpenny (Coronation) 1953 Unc
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.
£7.95
Elizabeth II, Halfpenny 1958 Brilliant Unc
Bronze Halfpenny dated 1958 in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.
£5.00
Elizabeth II, Halfpenny 1959 Brilliant Unc
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.
£3.00
Elizabeth II, Halfpenny 1960 Brilliant Unc
Bronze Halfpenny dated 1960 in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.
£2.50
Elizabeth II, Halfpenny 1964 Brilliant Unc
Bronze Halfpenny dated 1964 in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.
£1.50
Elizabeth II, Halfpenny 1966 Brilliant Unc
Bronze Halfpenny dated 1966 in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.
£2.00
George I, Halfpenny (Copper) Fair
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.
£32.50
George II, Halfpenny (Old Head) Fine
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!
£39.00
George II, Halfpenny (Old Head) VG
Here we offer the scarce King George II Old Head Halfpenny. Remember that during the reign of King George II (1727-1760) the Halfpenny was the largest denomination copper coin issued. The coins are in Very Good condition, which considering they are almost 300 years is not too bad indeed. They are big chunky coins with the young head of the King on one side and an attractive seated Britannia on the other side. Supplies are limited.
£34.50
George III, Halfpenny 1799
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.
From £22.50
George III, Halfpenny 1799 Fine
1799 Halfpenny in Fine. The first Halfpennies struck on a steam press.
£22.50
George III, Halfpenny 1806 Fine
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.
£22.50
George III, Halfpenny 1806 Very Fine
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.
£39.50
George III, Halfpenny 1806/7 Fair
We have just bought a group of George III Halfpennies dated 1806 and 1807, the only two dates for which this type was struck. They are well circulated and therefore fairly worn but this is because there were no more copper coins struck for circulation until 1821 and these coins continued circulating well after that. These copper coins were struck at the Soho Mint in Birmingham using the newly invented steam presses invented by Matthew Boulton and James Watt. They have the laureate bust of George III on the obverse with the date below and Britannia seated on the reverse. We can offer them in Fair to suit your budget but we also have both dates available so if you order two then we can supply both dates for your collection.
£9.95
George III, Halfpenny, 1806/7 Very Good
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
£19.95
George IV, Halfpenny 1827
Obverse: Laureate head facing left, Reverse: Britannia seated with shield and trident. About Uncirculated but a few small edge nicks.
£195.00
George IV, Halfpenny 1827 Unc
Obverse with attractive blue tone, reverse with lots of lustre. Uncirculated.
£225.00
George VI, Halfpenny 1937 Unc/Brilliant Unc
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.
£18.00
George VI, Halfpenny 1937-48 BU
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.
£16.00
George VI, Halfpenny 1937-48 Unc
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.
£10.00
George VI, Halfpenny 1938 Unc/Brilliant Unc
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.
£15.00
George VI, Halfpenny 1942 Brilliant Unc
Bronze Halfpenny dated 1942 in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.
£16.00
George VI, Halfpenny 1942 Unc/Brilliant Unc
Bronze halfpenny featuring King George VI from 1942; condition somewhere between uncirculated and brilliant uncirculated.
£12.00
- 1
- 2
 |  |  |