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The British pre-decimal halfpenny coin (abbreviated as ½d), usually simply known as a halfpenny or half penny, was a unit of currency that equalled half of a penny or one four-hundred-and-eightieth of a pound sterling (there were 20 shillings to a pound, and 12 pence to a shilling so one pound was equal to 240 pence, so 480 of these coins made up £1).
The denomination continues the tradition of earlier halfpenny coins of Great Britain, which also featured the figure of Britannia. The bronze coins of these specifications replaced the larger copper halfpennies which were issued until 1860. The new, more durable, alloy was composed of 95 parts of copper, four of tin and one of zinc. Between 1860 and 1895, the half penny had the third Britannia design on the reverse, and Queen Victoria's "Bun Head" effigy. In 1895, the reverse was updated to this fourth Britannia design and the obverse to her "Veiled Head" portrait. The coins of this type were issued until 1936, with obverses changing to King Edward VII and King George V accordingly. In 1937, the reverse was redesigned for the new issue of King George VI.
Halfpenny coins issued in 1897 remained in circulation for 72 years until 1969, when they were demonetised prior to the decimalisation of the currency.
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin features the crowned bust of Queen Victoria facing left and wearing a widows's veil in mourning for her husband Prince Albert - her last official effigy (by Sir Thomas Brock), known also as the Veiled Head or Old Head.
The veil of a widow falls over the back of her crown; she wears a pearl necklace and a pendant; on the left lapel of the mantle, exhibited full-face, is the ribbon and Star of the Garter, part of the outer edge of which is covered by the veil.
In the field below the bust in small letters are the artist's initials T.B..
Around, the monarch's legend: VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·. Translated from Latin: Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the Britains Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India.
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin shows, within a beaded border, the figure of Britannia - the female personification of Great Britain - seated facing right, wearing a crested Corinthian helmet pushed back to reveal her face and a flowing dress, resting her right hand on a shield bearing the combined crosses of the Union Flag, and holding a trident in her left hand.
Around left and right, the denomination HALF PENNY. In exergue, the date 1897. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
HALF PENNY 1897 |
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| Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Most half penny coins of 1897 have Obverse 1 and Reverse C (Freeman 374).
For information about Freeman obverse/reverse varieties, see descriptions on the halfpenny / fourth Britannia type page.
References to additional information:
[Book] Bressett, Kenneth E. 1962. A Guidebook of English Coins, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Wisconsin, USA. p26
[Book] Freeman, Michael J. 1970. The Bronze Coinage of Great Britain. Motherwell, Scotland, (2016 ed. pp100-101)
[Book] Remick, Jerome. 1971. The Guide Book and Catalogue to British Commonwealth Coins., p198 |
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