Half crown

Half crown coin of Oliver Cromwell, 1658

The half crown was a denomination of British money worth two shillings and sixpence, being one-eighth of a pound and half of a crown. The half crown was first issued in 1549, in the reign of Edward VI. No half crowns were issued in the reign of Mary, but from the reign of Elizabeth I half crowns were issued in every reign except Edward VIII, until the coins were discontinued in 1967. The half crown was demonetised (ahead of other pre-decimal coins) on 1 January 1970, the year before the United Kingdom adopted decimal currency on Decimal Day.

During the English Interregnum of 1649-1660, a republican half crown was issued, bearing the arms of the Commonwealth of England, despite monarchist associations of the coin's name. When Oliver Cromwell made himself Lord Protector of England, half crowns were issued bearing his semi-royal portrait.

The half crown did not display its value on the reverse until 1893.

In the 1800s, the silver half crown coin was (very roughly) convertible into an American fifty-cent piece, and was sometimes nicknamed the "half dollar" in North America.

History of the half crown by reign

This Charles I half crown was struck from a piece of hammered silver plate during one of the Civil War sieges on Newark.

• Henry VIII of England 1526: the first British half crown was struck in gold.
• Edward VI of England 1551: issued the first half crown in silver. The coin was dated and showed the king riding a horse.
• Mary of England: the half crown was struck on Mary's marriage to Philip II of Spain in 1554 but was never issued for circulation. Three specimens exist.
• Elizabeth I of England: gold half crowns were issued again. At the end of the reign silver half crowns were issued.
• James I of England: gold half crowns were issued again. During the reign silver half crowns were issued.
• Charles I of England: silver half crowns were issued, including those struck as obsidional money, money of necessity during the Civil War period.
• Commonwealth of England: Oliver Cromwell silver half crowns were issued. During the years 1656 and 1658 milled half crowns were issued of Oliver Cromwell.
• Charles II of England 1663–1685: silver half crowns were issued, and this period saw the end of the hammered issue of half crowns.
• James II of England 1685–1688: silver half crown.
• William & Mary of England 1689–1694: silver half crown.
• William III of England 1694–1702: silver half crown.
• Anne of Great Britain 1702–1714: silver half crown.
• George I of Great Britain 1714–1727: silver half crown.
• George II of Great Britain 1727–1760: silver half crown.
• George III of Great Britain 1760–1820: silver half crown.
• George IV of Great Britain 1820–1830: silver half crown.
• William IV of the United Kingdom 1830–1837: silver half crown.
• Victoria of the United Kingdom 1837–1901: silver half crown.
• Edward VII of the United Kingdom 1902–1910: silver half crown.
• George V of the United Kingdom 1910–1936: silver half crown, sterling silver (92½% silver) until 1919, then 50% silver.
• Edward VIII of the United Kingdom 1936: 50% silver half crown. Not issued for circulation.
• George VI of the United Kingdom 1937–1952: 50% silver half crowns were issued until 1946 when the metal was changed to cupro-nickel.
• Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 1952–1970: the last half crown was issued in 1970 at the time of decimalisation.

Mintages

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Gallery

The obverse of the 1953, Elizabeth II, half crown.

The reverse of the 1953, Elizabeth II, half crown.

See also

• Half crown (Irish coin)

External links

• British Coins - Free information about British coins (from 1656 to 1952). Includes an online forum.
• Coins of the UK - A full history of the half crown.