Halfpenny 1953, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

The obverse of the coin shows the laureate young laureate bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right - her effigy known as the "First Portrait". The laurel wreath in the Queen's hair is tied with a ribbon with two ends flowing behind.

The designer's initials, M.G. (for Mary Gillick) appear incuse on the base of the shoulder truncation, and can be seen when the coin is viewed at an angle.

The monarch's legend runs continuously all around the bust: + ELIZABETH II DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REGINA F: D:. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the grace of God, Queen of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith.

The legend was formulated like this in 1953 only. Due to anti-colonialism sentiments, the reference to "all the Britains" (BRITT: OMN:) was later dropped.

Freeman distinguishes two obverses in 1953:

Obverse 1 has almost rectangular stops in the legend; the Queen's effigy is low in relief, the designer's initials are very weakly struck. The bust is under 17 mm in size. The vertical stroke of the cross points to a space between two border beads.

Obverse 2 has a higher relief, with the designer's initials much more distinct. The bust is just over 17 mm in size. The vertical stroke of the cross points directly to a border dot. The legend as a whole is slightly closer to the border.

The reverse of the coin depicts, within a beaded border, the full port view of a three-masted sailing ship, with bowsprit, full rigging and bellowing sails (a representation of the Golden Hind of Sir Francis Drake), upon waves the lower outline of which is curved and concentric with the edge of the coin. Above the fore- and after-masts flutter the flags of St Andrew; above the main mast is a pennant incorporating the cross of St George.

Around above, the denomination HALF PENNY; below, the date 1953.

In the field, to the right of the stern, the designer's initials HP (for [Thomas] Humphrey Paget).

Freeman distinguishes two reverses in 1953:

Reverse A is like Reverse P of George VI, with the ship and sea design 19.25 mm as before.

Reverse B has a distance of 18.8 mm from the top of the ship to the base of the sea. The border teeth are considerably longer than in Reverse A and the rim is thicker.There are faint horizontal lines on the foremast flag; waves are slightly thicker and not as clearly outlined.

Mintage includes 8,910,000 circulation coins and 40,000 proofs struck for the Queen's coronation mint sets.

Most half penny coins of 1953 have Obverse 1 and Reverse A (Freeman 463; definitions by Freeman).

For information about Freeman obverse/reverse varieties, see descriptions on the halfpenny / ship type page.

References to additional information:

[Book] Bressett, Kenneth E. 1962. A Guidebook of English Coins, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Wisconsin, USA. pp29-30
[Book] Freeman, Michael J. 1970. The Bronze Coinage of Great Britain. Motherwell, Scotland, (2016 ed. pp110-111)
[Book] Remick, Jerome. 1971. The Guide Book and Catalogue to British Commonwealth Coins., p199