Halfpenny (British pre-decimal coin)


The British pre-decimal halfpenny coin, usually simply known as a ha'penny, historically occasionally also as the obol and once abbreviated ‘ob’ , was a unit of currency that equalled half of a penny or of a pound sterling. Originally the halfpenny was minted in copper, but after 1860 it was minted in bronze. In the run-up to decimalisation it ceased to be legal tender from 31 July 1969. The halfpenny featured two different designs on its reverse during its years in circulation. From 1672 until 1936 the image of Britannia appeared on the reverse, and from 1937 onwards the image of the Golden Hind appeared. Like all British coinage, it bore the portrait of the monarch on the obverse.
"Halfpenny" was colloquially written ha’penny, and "d" was spoken as "a penny ha’penny" or three ha’pence. Before Decimal Day in 1971 there were 240 pence in one pound sterling. Twelve pence made a shilling, and twenty shillings made a pound. Values less than a pound were usually written in terms of shillings and pence, e.g. 42 pence would be three shillings and sixpence, pronounced "three and six", whereas 3 shillings even would be "3s" or, on a sign in a shop, "3/-". Values of less than a shilling were simply written in pence, e.g. eightpence would be 8d.

Design

The original reverse of the bronze version of the coin, designed by Leonard Charles Wyon, is a seated Britannia, holding a trident, with the words to 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 read. This was replaced in 1895 by the ‘old head’, or ‘veiled bust’. The inscription on these coins read.
Coins issued during the reign of Edward VII feature his likeness and bear the inscription. Similarly, those issued during the reign of George V feature his likeness and bear the inscription.
A halfpenny of King Edward VIII does exist, dated 1937, but technically it is a pattern coin i.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 ; the inscription on the obverse is.
The pattern coin of Edward VIII and regular issue halfpennies of George VI and Elizabeth II feature a redesigned reverse displaying Sir Francis Drake's ship the Golden Hind.
George VI issue coins feature the inscription before 1949, and thereafter. Unlike the penny, halfpennies were minted throughout the early reign of Elizabeth II, bearing the inscription in 1953, and thereafter.

Mintages

Victoria

  • 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

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

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