Half crown (British coin)

Half crown
United Kingdom
Value£0.125
Two shillings and sixpence
Mass1816–1970: 14.14 g
Diameter1816–1970: 32.31 mm
EdgeMilled
Composition
Years of minting1707–1970
Obverse
DesignProfile of the monarch (Elizabeth II design shown)
DesignerMary Gillick
Design date1953
Reverse
DesignVarious (crowned Royal Shield shown)
DesignerEdgar Fuller and Cecil Thomas
Design date1967

The British half crown was a denomination of sterling coinage worth 18 of one pound, or two shillings and six pence (abbreviated "2/6", familiarly "two and six"), or 30 pre-decimal pence. 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 that of Edward VIII, until the coins were discontinued in 1970.

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 was made Lord Protector of England, half crowns were issued bearing his portrait depicting him wearing a laurel wreath in the manner of a Roman Emperor. The half crown did not display its value on the reverse until 1893. In the 20th century a slang term for the coin was "half-a-dollar".[1]

  1. ^ "Half-a-dollar", Collins Dictionary. Retrieved 5 October 2022