Halfpenny (British pre-decimal coin)

This article is about the British coin minted between 1672 and 1967. For the decimal halfpenny, seeHalfpenny (British decimal coin).For the earlier history of the halfpenny, seeHistory of the halfpenny.

TheBritishpre-decimalhalfpenny(pronounced/ˈheɪpəni/), once abbreviatedob.(from the Latin 'obulus'),is a discontinued denomination ofsterling coinageworth⁠1/480⁠of onepound,⁠1/24⁠of oneshilling,or⁠1/2⁠of onepenny.Originally the halfpenny was minted in copper, but after 1860 it was minted in bronze. In the run-up todecimalisation,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 ofBritanniaappeared on the reverse, and from 1937 onwards the image of theGolden Hindappeared.Like all British coinage, it bore the portrait of the monarch on the obverse.

Oneoldhalfpenny

United Kingdom
Value	⁠+1/2⁠dsterling
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
Obverse
Design	Profile of the monarch (Elizabeth IIdesign shown)
Designer	Mary Gillick
Design date	1953
Reverse
Design	Golden Hind(Britanniaon earlier mintages)
Designer	Thomas Humphrey Paget
Design date	1937

"Halfpenny" was colloquially writtenha'penny,and "⁠1+1/2⁠d"was spoken as" a penny ha’penny "/əˈpɛniˈheɪpni/orthree ha'pence/θriːˈheɪpəns/."Halfpenny" is a rare example of a word in theEnglish languagethat has asilent'f'.

BeforeDecimal Dayin 1971, sterling used theCarolingian monetary system,under which the largest unit was apound 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

Original reverse: 1717–1936

The originalreverseof the bronze version of the coin, designed byLeonard Charles Wyon,is a seatedBritannia,holding a trident, with the wordsHALF PENNYto 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 readVICTORIA D G BRITT REG F D.This was replaced in 1895 by the 'old head', or 'veiled bust'. The inscription on these coins readVICTORIA DEI GRA BRITT REGINA FID DEF IND IMP.

Illustrated Chipscomic in 1896, sold for a halfpenny

Coins issued during the reign ofEdward VIIfeature his likeness and bear the inscriptionEDWARDVS VII DEI GRA BRITT OMN REX FID DEF IND IMP.Similarly, those issued during the reign ofGeorge Vfeature his likeness and bear the inscriptionGEORGIVS V DEI GRA BRITT OMN REX FID DEF IND IMP.

A halfpenny of KingEdward VIII(1936) does exist, dated 1937, but technically it is apattern coini.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 isEDWARDVS VIII D G BR OMN REX F D IND IMP.

The pattern coin of Edward VIII and regular issue halfpennies ofGeorge VIandElizabeth IIfeature a redesigned reverse displayingSir Francis Drake's ship theGolden Hind.

A 1937 halfpenny (reverse), depicting the Golden Hind

George VI issue coins feature the inscriptionGEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN REX F D IND IMPbefore 1949, andGEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN REX FIDEI DEFthereafter. Unlike the penny, halfpennies were minted throughout the early reign of Elizabeth II, bearing the inscriptionELIZABETH II DEI GRA BRITT OMN REGINA F Din 1953, andELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F Dthereafter.

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 Englishi.e. 'halfpenny-worth'or 'halfpennyworth'pronounced/ˈheɪpəθ/.

In literal useusually written out in fullalthough stillnever pronounced phonetically:e.g. "A halfpennyworth of chips."In figurative useusually 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!"(fromAlan Bennett'sA lady of Letters,written and produced in 1987, some sixteen years after decimalisation and three years after the New Halfpenny—(i.e. the decimal⁠1/2⁠p)—had been demonetised and withdrawn from circulation, thus further illustrating the continued traditional or idiomatictwo-syllable pronunciation). Also used in the once common phrase: "daft ha’porth."

See also

• Shove ha'penny

External links

• Halfpenny (Pre-decimal), Coin Type from United Kingdom– Online Coin Club