The half crown was a denomination of British money, equivalent to two shillings and sixpence, or one-eighth of a pound. The half crown was first issued in 1549, in the reign of Edward VI. No half crowns were issued in the reign of Mary, but from the reign of Elizabeth I half crowns were issued in every reign except Edward VIII, until the coins were discontinued in 1970. The half crown was demonetised on 1 January 1970, the year before the United Kingdom adopted decimal currency on Decimal Day. During the English Interregnum of 1649–1660, a republican half crown was issued, bearing the arms of the Commonwealth of England, despite monarchist associations of the coin's name. When Oliver Cromwell was made Lord Protector of England, half crowns were issued bearing his semi-royal portrait. The half crown did not display its value on the reverse until 1893. Because the pound sterling was worth four US dollars in the first half of the twentieth century the half-crown was often referred to, even until it was withdrawn, as "half a dollar".
History of the half crown by reign
King Henry VIII 1526: the first English half crown was struck in gold.
King Edward VI 1551: issued the first half crown in silver. The coin was dated and showed the king riding a horse.
Queen Mary I: the half crown was struck on Mary's marriage to Philip II of Spain in 1554 but was never issued for circulation. Three specimens exist. http://www.petitioncrown.com/spare15_LK47.html
Queen Elizabeth I: gold half crowns were issued again. At the end of the reign silver half crowns were issued.
King James I: gold half crowns were issued again. During the reign silver half crowns were issued.
King Charles I: silver half crowns were issued, including those struck as obsidional money, money of necessity during the Civil War period.
Commonwealth of England: Oliver Cromwell silver half crowns were issued. During the years 1656 and 1658 milled half crowns were issued of Oliver Cromwell.
King Charles II 1663–1685: silver half crowns were issued, and this period saw the end of the hammered issue of half crowns.
King Edward VIII 1936: 50% silver half crown. Not issued for circulation.
King George VI 1937–1952: 50% silver half crowns were issued until 1946 when the metal was changed to cupro-nickel.
Queen Elizabeth II 1952–1970: the last half crown was issued in 1970 shortly before decimalisation.
Size and weight
From 1816, in the reign of George III, half crown coins had a diameter of 32 mm and a weight of 14.14 grams, dimensions which remained the same for the half crown until decimalisation in 1971.
Mintages
The mintage figures below are taken from the annual UK publication COIN YEARBOOK. Proof mintages are indicated in italics.
