Halfcrown 1950, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

Halfcrown 1950, Coin from United Kingdom (demonetised 1970)
CoinHalfcrown 1950

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 1950 were legal tender for 20 years.

MintRoyal Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Total Mintage 28,353,013 (28.4 million)
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Obverse
United Kingdom / Halfcrown 1950 - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin shows the bare (uncrowned) head of King George VI facing left.

Below the neck truncation in small letters, the artist's initials HP (for [Thomas] Humphrey Paget).

Around, the monarch's legend: GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX. Translated from Latin: George the Sixth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains.

Obverse Inscription GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Reverse
United Kingdom / Halfcrown 1950 - reverse photo

The reverse of the coin shows the shield of the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom, suspended from a chain link. The shield is quartered, depicting in the first and fourth quarters the three passant guardant lions of England; in the second, the rampant lion and double tressure flory-counterflory of Scotland; and in the third, a harp for Ireland.

The initials of the designer, KG (for [George] Kruger Gray) are divided by the lower part of the shield.

Around above, the continuation of the monarch's legend: FID : DEF IND : IMP (Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India).

On both sides of the shield, a crowned monogram: GG, with one G reversed. There are dots above the small vertical lines in the letters, to distinguish it from that of the king's predecessor.

Around below, the denomination and the date HALF CROWN 1950.

Reverse Inscription FID : DEF IND : IMP HALF CROWN 1950
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
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Halfcrown 1950: Known varieties
Variety Proof
Mintage Issued: 17,513 (included in total)
Variety Matt Proof
Mintage Issued: unknown
Details

According to Spink, "of the highest rarity"; according to Krause, "there are reportedly one or two known of this variety, struck specifically for use in photographs".

Halfcrown 1950: References to Information Used
SourceEditionAboutLinkNotes
Museums Victoria Collections 2016 Coin description
Remick, Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1971 Mint
Remick, Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1971 Mintage Circulation and proof mintage
Remick, Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1971 Varieties Proof
Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom Varieties Proof, Matt Proof
Showing 32 from a total of 132 coins of type: Halfcrown
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Halfcrown 1937 9,132,842 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1938 6,426,478 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1939 15,478,635 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1940 17,948,439 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1941 15,773,984 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1942 31,220,090 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1943 15,462,875 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1944 15,255,165 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1945 19,849,242 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1946 22,724,873 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1947 21,911,484 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1948 71,164,703 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1949 28,272,512 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1950 28,353,013 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1951 9,003,520 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1952 2 King George VI - Bare Head GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX
Halfcrown 1953 3,923,214 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA BRITT: OMN: REGINA
Halfcrown 1954 11,614,953 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfcrown 1955 23,628,726 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfcrown 1956 33,934,909 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfcrown 1957 34,200,563 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfcrown 1958 15,745,688 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfcrown 1959 9,028,844 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfcrown 1960 19,929,191 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfcrown 1961 25,887,897 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfcrown 1962 23,998,112 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfcrown 1963 17,572,800 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfcrown 1964 4,576,800 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfcrown 1965 8,124,800 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfcrown 1966 14,811,200 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfcrown 1967 21,000,000 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Halfcrown 1970 (Proof only) 750,476 Queen Elizabeth II - First Portrait + ELIZABETH · II · DEI · GRATIA · REGINA
Showing 101 to 132 of 132 Coins.
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Halfcrown 1950: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling (pre-decimal)
Coin TypeHalfcrown George V and George VI
Issued1950
MonarchKing George VI
EffigyKing George VI - Bare Head, by Thomas Humphrey Paget
ReverseRoyal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom
Face Value2 1/2 (x Shilling)
Total Mintage28,353,013 (28.4 million)
CurrentNo; demonetised 1970
MaterialCuproNickel
DesignerGeorge Kruger Gray
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size32.3000 mm
Mass14.1380 g
OCC IDJPMV-REAP-CXWW-ONQG
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Halfcrown 1950: Photos
ImageDetails
Halfcrown 1950: Photo 1950 Half-crown, George VI / thumbnail 1950 Half-crown, George VI
Copyright: JNCoins
Source
Halfcrown 1950: Photo 1950 Half-crown, George VI / thumbnail 1950 Half-crown, George VI
Copyright: JNCoins
Source
Halfcrown 1950: Catalogue Reference IDs