Coin
The Royal Mint
Category
Metalwork
Date
1906
Materials
Metal
Measurements
1 mm (Depth); 25 mm (Diameter)
Order this imageCollection
Mr Straw's House, Nottinghamshire
NT 741501.3
Caption
The British pre-decimal halfpenny coin was a unit of currency that equalled half of a penny or 1/480th of a pound sterling. "Halfpenny" was colloquially written ha’penny. Before Decimal Day in 1971 there were 240 pence in one pound sterling. Originally the halfpenny was minted in copper, but after 1860 it was minted in bronze. It ceased to be legal tender in 1969, in the run-up to decimalisation. The halfpenny featured two different designs on its reverse during its years in circulation. From 1672 until 1936 the image of Britannia appeared on the reverse, and from 1937 onwards the image of the Golden Hind appeared. Like all British coinage, it bore the portrait of the monarch on the obverse. Over the years, various different obverses were used. Edward VII, George V, George VI and Elizabeth II each had a single obverse for halfpennies produced during their respective reigns. Over the long reign of Queen Victoria two different obverses were used, but the short reign of Edward VIII meant no halfpennies bearing his likeness were ever issued. The pattern coin of Edward VIII and regular issue halfpennies of George VI and Elizabeth II feature a redesigned reverse displaying Sir Francis Drake's ship the Golden Hind. George VI issue coins feature the inscription GEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN REX F D IND IMP before 1949, and GEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN REX FIDEI DEF thereafter. Unlike the penny, halfpennies were minted throughout the early reign of Elizabeth II, bearing the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRA BRITT OMN REGINA F D in 1953, and ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F D thereafter.
Summary
One of two half pennies, 1906, with other coins (BLG/M/324.2-112) all in cream paper bag. Britannia is on the reverse, George V is on the obverse. Both sides have very poor definition. Very little of the lettering is visible, with the clearest lettering being the date. Britannia and the profile of George V have been reduced to a rough silhouette.
Provenance
Straw collection bequeathed to The National Trust on the death in 1990 of William Straw.
Makers and roles
The Royal Mint, manufacturer