The half-sovereign was introduced in 1817 as part of a re-coinage at the end of the Napoleonic wars. From 1816 the silver coins no longer contained their intrinsic value of silver they are therefore termed a "token coinage". The gold content of the sovereign was however retained at full metal value. The half-sovereign was current at 10 shillings.

The half sovereign was designed by Pistrucci and shows, on the re­verse side, a rather angular shield displaying the arms of England, Scotland and Ireland in each corner and the German dominions in the center.

The coins were struck in the new Royal Mint building on Tower Hill with steam powered presses supplied by Messrs Boulton, Watt and Rennie.

Laureate head of King George III facing right; hair short; the tie has a loop and two hanging ends; the King's neck is bare. Below, the date 1817; around, commencing at the bottom of the coin, the legend GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA.

Crowned angular shield quartered with the arms of England, Scotland, Ireland and France with inescutcheon the arms of the electorate of Brunswick and Luneburg surmounted by the Electoral crown. Beginning at the bootom of the coin, around the legend REX FID: DEF: BRITANNIARUM interrupted by the crown at the top.

Alignment: reverse die axis.

References to additional information:

[Book] Marsh, Michael A. The Gold Half Sovereign. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Coins, 1982. pp. 1-3.