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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 introduced in 1927 and was struck until 1952, during the reigns of King George V and King George VI. The reverse was designed by George Kruger Gray. Initially, the composition was 0.500 silver, debased from earlier (pre-1920) silver coinage which was "sterling" (92.5%) silver. Starting in 1947, the denomination was entirely debased, together with the rest of the previously silver British coinage, to copper-nickel. The half crown was demonetised - ahead of other pre-decimal coins - on 1 January 1970, the year before the United Kingdom adopted decimal currency. In other words, half crowns issued in 1936 were legal tender for 34 years. Although bearing the effigy of King George V, it is considered probable that all coins dated 1936 were produced during the reign of Edward VIII (1936) as George V died on 20 January, 1936. | ||||||||||||
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Variety | Proof | |
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Mintage | Issued: unknown |
Source | Edition | About | Link | Notes |
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Museums Victoria Collections | 2016 | Coin description | link | |
Remick, Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins | 1971 | Mint | ||
Remick, Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins | 1971 | Mintage | ||
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins | Varieties | Proof |
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Country | United Kingdom |
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Currency | Pound Sterling (pre-decimal) |
Coin Type | Halfcrown George V and George VI |
Issued | 1936 |
Monarch | King George V |
Effigy | King George V - Bare Head, by Bertram Mackennal |
Reverse | Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom |
Face Value | 2 1/2 (x Shilling) |
Total Mintage | 7,039,423 (7.0 million) |
Current | No; demonetised 1970 |
Material | 0.500 Silver |
Designer | George Kruger Gray |
Technology | Milled (machine-made) |
Shape | Round |
Orientation | Medal Alignment (Axis 0) |
Size | 32.3000 mm |
Mass | 14.1380 g |
OCC ID | XGAV-PEXA-CRVG-OMDY |
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Image | Details |
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Coin - Halfcrown, George V, Great Britain, 1936
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Source |
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Coin - Halfcrown, George V, Great Britain, 1936
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Source |
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Great Britain 1936 1/2 crown
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles Source |
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Great Britain 1936 1/2 crown
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles Source |
Source | Reference ID |
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Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins | Great Britain KM# 835 |
Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom | 4037 |