Halfcrown Queen Victoria, First Issue, Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information

The halfcrown (or half crown) was a denomination of the pre-decimal Pound Sterling coinage worth one-eighth of a pound, or two and a half shillings (a full crown being defined as five shillings), or 30 pence. In sums, it was abbreviated "2/6" (pronounced "two and six" - two shillings and six pence, a full shilling being twelve pence). The half crown was first issued in 1549 in the reign of King Edward VI.

This type of halfcrown coins was struck during the reign of Queen Victoria. Its reverse design is by Jean Baptiste Merlen, who also designed the earlier halfcrowns issued for King William IV.

The design (both reverse and obverse) was preserved for almost fifty years; this coin type was struck in substantial numbers from 1839 to 1850, then only proofs were offered for several years, followed by a nine-year gap as the Royal Mint attempted to circulate the new florin (two shillings) denomination instead. In 1874, production of this type resumed with a slightly modified effigy and continued until 1887, when it was finally replaced by Queen Victoria's second issue coinage on the occasion of her Jubilee (50 years on the throne).

The composition is Sterling Silver (0.925 silver) and the coins have 0.4205 oz ASW (ounces of Absolute Silver Weight). The half crown was demonetised (ahead of other pre-decimal coins) on 1 January 1970, the year before the United Kingdom adopted decimal currency.