What is the value of a British Halfgroat?

Answer 1

Please note that since the predecimal (pre-1971) Halfpenny is part of a redundant or obsolete currency, it no longer has an "exchange rate" with other currencies.

A Halfpenny coin is a denomination of the old predecimal British currency system and dates back to about 1200 AD. It came into being due to the need for a smaller unit of currency prior to which, Pennies were literally cut in half.

The Halfpenny coin was also used by many other Commonwealth countries who based their new currencies on the British system.

Originally, the Halfpenny was made from silver, then due to the decline in the currency, copper from the 1670's, then tin briefly during the 1680's, back to copper in the 1690's and finally bronze from about 1860. The pre-decimal Halfpenny was last minted in 1967.

Since 1816, the pre-decimal British Halfpenny varied from 26 to 28mm in diameter and weighed from 5.644 to 9.457 grams. The exact percentages of metals varied slightly since the 1860 bronze coins were introduced, but they were roughly 95.5% copper, 3% tin and 1.5% zinc.

British Halfpennies dating back to the early 1700's have featured the iconic figure of a seated Britannia with a trident and shield, but from 1937 to 1967, featured Sir Francis Drakes "Golden Hind" sailing ship.

There were 2 Halfpennies in a Penny, 24 Halfpennies in a Shilling and 480 Halfpennies in a Pound.

At Britain's conversion to decimal currency in February, 1971, the term Halfpenny continued to be used for a completely different and much smaller coin. The old Halfpenny had no new decimal equivalent coin, but was equal to 0.208 New Pence in the new currency. From 1971, there are 100 Pennies in a Pound. The decimal Halfpennies were made from bronze from 1971 to 1984 from when they were withdrawn from circulation and demonetised.

The British decimal Halfpenny, referred to as a "Half New Penny" from 1971 to 1981, and back to "Halfpenny" from 1982 to 1984, are rarely worth more than face value unless they are Proof FDC or part of a "Mint" or Proof" set.

From a coin collectors perspective, a predecimal (pre-1971) Halfpenny coin, depending on the year, condition and method of minting, could be worth anything from a few Pence to several thousand pounds GBP.

Answer 2

A Groat was Fourpence, so a silver Twopence were often referred to as a Half-groat. Half-Groat coins have not been minted for hundreds of years, but were circulating from the early 14th until the early 17th century. Please see the attached link

Answer 3

A Groat was a fourpenny coin minted in England beginning in the 13th Century during the reign of Edward I. It was usually made from silver, and was last minted during Queen Victoria's reign in 1888.

Over the hundreds of years the Groat was minted, it had many different weights, diameters and thicknesses ranging from 1.9 to 5.8 grams in weight and 16 to 25 mm in diameter.

There were 3 Groats in a Shilling and 60 Groats in a Pound.

The Maundy Set contains a fourpenny coin, but it is not referred to as a Groat.

Please note that since the Groat is part of a redundant or obsolete currency, it no longer has an "exchange rate" with other currencies.

Answer 4

A Groat was a British silver coin of Fourpence value. A Halfgroat was a British silver coin of Twopence value.

The term Halfgroat used to officially describe a Twopenny coin died out in the mid-1600's and the term Twopence was used.

The term Groat continued to be used to officially describe a Fourpenny coin until the mid-1800's.