Halfpenny (Pre-decimal), Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information

Effigy of the ruling British monarch, part of the legend (in Latin).

During the existence of the denomination, half pennies were issued for:
- King George III (1806 - 1807)
- King George IV (1825 - 1831)
- King William IV (1831 - 1837)
- Queen Victoria (1838 - 1901)
- King Edward VII (1902 - 1910)
- King George V (1911 - 1936)
- King George VI (1937 - 1952)
- Queen Elizabeth II (1953 - 1970)

The reverse went through several transformations during the existence of the denomination.

The first reverse (1806 - 1807) was designed by Conrad Heinrich Küchler; the coins were struck by the Soho Mint. It shows the figure of Britannia - the female personification of Great Britain - seated on a rock, facing left, holding a trident and extending an olive branch; a shield decorated with the British flag rests against the rock at right. In the background to the left, a sailing ship. Around above, the legend BRITANNIA. There is no indication of the value and denomination.

Subsequent coins were struck almost exclusively by the Royal Mint; its production was on a few occasions supplemented by Heaton and Sons in Birmingham.

The second reverse (1825 - 1860), designed by William Wyon, features a new rendition of Britannia; she is seated facing right, wearing a Corinthian helmet pushed back to reveal her face, resting her right hand on a shield bearing a saltire of arms, and holding a trident in her left hand. In the exergue, a rose, a thistle and a shamrock combined - the floral symbols of the constituent parts of the United Kingdom, respectively England, Scotland and Ireland. The reverse also bears part of the monarch's legend. As before, there is no indication of the coin's value and denomination.

The third reverse (1860 - 1894) has a new rendition of Britannia, by Leonard Charles Wyon. Again, she is wearing a crested Corinthian helmet pushed back to reveal her face, resting her right hand on a shield bearing the combined crosses of the Union Flag, and holding a trident in her left hand. In the background at right, a ship sailing away; at left, a lighthouse. Around left and right, the denomination HALF PENNY. In exergue, the date.

The fourth reverse (1895 - 1936) is a simplified version of the third, with the lighthouse and sailing ship removed from the background.

The fifth reverse (1937 - 1970) is a radical departure from the earlier traditions and features a sailing ship - Sir Francis Drake’s "Golden Hind". The date is below, and the denomination HALF PENNY is around above.

There are also pattern halfpennies listed separately.

Various British colonies, dominions and dependencies also issued their own versions of the half penny denomination, usually to be used in parallel with their Imperial counterpart and with compatible dimensions and composition but sometimes made deliberately different, e.g. with a central hole. For these, see:

- Bahamas Colony, One Penny - equal in size with the halfpenny but denominated as one penny; issued 1806 only
- Ionian Islands, One Obol - issued in 1819 only, demonetised 1864
- British West Africa, Halfpenny - with central hole, issued 1911 to 1952, demonetised 1968
- Australia, Halfpenny - issued 1911 to 1964, withdrawn 1966 (not demonetised)
- New Guinea, Half Penny - with central hole, issued 1929 only, demonetised 1966
- Fiji, Halfpenny - with central hole, issued 1934 to 1954, demonetised 1969
- New Zealand, Halfpenny - issued 1940 to 1965, demonetised 1967
- Nigeria, Halfpenny - with central hole, issued 1959 only, demonetised 1973