Halfpenny (British decimal coin)

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Halfpenny

United Kingdom
Value	£0.005
Mass	1.78 g
Diameter	17.14 mm
Thickness	1 mm
Edge	plain
Composition	bronze
Years of minting	1971–1984
Obverse
Design	Queen Elizabeth II
Designer	Arnold Machin
Design date	1971
Reverse
Design	St Edward's Crown
Designer	Christopher Ironside
Design date	1971

The British decimal halfpenny (1⁄2p) coin was a denomination of sterling coinage introduced in February 1971, at the time of decimalisation, and was worth 1⁄200 of one pound. It was ignored in banking transactions, which were carried out in units of 1p.

The decimal halfpenny had the same value as 1.2 pre-decimal pence, and was introduced to enable the prices of some low-value items to be more accurately translated to the new decimal currency. The possibility of setting prices including an odd half penny also made it more practical to retain the pre-decimal sixpence in circulation (with a value of ⁠2+1/2⁠ new pence) alongside the new decimal coinage.

The halfpenny coin's obverse featured the profile of Queen Elizabeth II; the reverse featured an image of St Edward's Crown. It was minted in bronze (like the 1p and 2p coins). It was the smallest decimal coin in both size and value, the size being in proportion to 1p and 2p coins.

The halfpenny soon became Britain's least favourite coin.^[1] The UK Treasury argued the halfpenny was important in the fight against inflation, as it prevented prices from being rounded up.^[1] Nevertheless, the coin was demonetised and withdrawn from circulation in December 1984.^[1]