Halfcrown 1947, Coin 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 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 1947 were legal tender for 23 years.

At the end of World War II the price of silver which had been 24 pence an ounce in 1939 had risen to 55.5 pence (the London controlled price), apparently with none available. The free suppliers' price at the time was 70 pence and even there supplies were very limited. In addition the UK government was under obligation to repay in kind 88,000,000 ounces to the USA obtained during the War. It was therefore decided to abandon silver for circulating coinage and substitute a cupro-nickel alloy. The first coins made with the new alloy were struck in 1947.