Three Halfpence, Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information

Three Halfpence, Coin Type from United Kingdom (issued 1834 - 1870)
Coin TypeThree Halfpence

The British three halfpence was a silver coin worth one and and a half penny (1½d) or 1/160th of a pre-decimal Pound Sterling ("d" is abbreviated from "denarius" - the Roman coin from which the penny is directly descended).

The denomination was produced for circulation in the British colonies, mainly in Ceylon, British Guiana, and the British West Indies as well as Mauritius and Sierra Leone which used the ordinary British currency. It was issued each year between 1834 and 1843, and also in 1860 and 1862; proof coins were also produced in 1870. It was a rough equivalent to the Indian Anna coin and to the Spanish-American quarter real used in Jamaica. The design and size are similar to the silver Maundy penny coins except for the crowned 1½ on the reverse.

According to Museum Victoria (which inherited the archive and collection of the Melbourne Branch of the Royal Mint), "Small parcels to the value of 25 pounds worth of 1 1/2 penny pieces were issued by the Royal Mint, London to private persons for use in various colonies including Jamaica. No record was kept of the ultimate destination of any particular parcel."

The coin is considered to be part of the British coinage because it has no indication of what country it was minted for, being made in the same style as the other contemporary coins of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

The composition is sterling silver, with weight of 0.71 grams (0.0210 oz. ASW). The reverse of the coin, throughout its existence, showed "1½" beneath a crown and over the date, all contained within a wreath.

Obverse
United Kingdom / Three Halfpence - obverse photo

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

During the existence of the denomination, three halfpence coins were issued for:
- King William IV (1834 - 1837)
- Queen Victoria (1838 - 1870)

Obverse Inscription Legend of the ruling monarch
Reverse
United Kingdom / Three Halfpence - reverse photo

Within an open oak wreath, the numeral value (one and a half penny).

Above the value, St Edward's Crown. Named after Saint Edward the Confessor, it has been traditionally used to crown English and British monarchs at their coronations since the 13th century (with a two-century gap between 1689 and 1911).

Divided by the value, the date of issue: [year].

Reverse Inscription 1½ [year]
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
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London Mint Office coins.
London Mint Office coins.
Three Halfpence: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling (pre-decimal)
From1834
To1870
Face Value1 1/2 (x Penny)
CurrentNo (demonetised 1971)
Material0.925 Silver
Designer
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationCoin Alignment (Axis 6)
Size12.0000 mm
Mass0.7100 g
Three Halfpence: Photos
ImageDetails
Three Halfpence: Photo Coin - 3 Halfpence, Jamaica, 1838 Coin - 3 Halfpence, Jamaica, 1838
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Common reverse (1834 - 1870).
Source
Three Halfpence: Photo Coin - 3 Halfpence, Jamaica, 1837 Coin - 3 Halfpence, Jamaica, 1837
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: King William IV (1834 - 1837).
Source
Three Halfpence: Photo Coin - 3 Halfpence, Jamaica, 1838 Coin - 3 Halfpence, Jamaica, 1838
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Queen Victoria (1838 - 1870).
Source