Value of half penny? ...UK?

Question

ive found a half penny from 1941, when king george VI was king. is it worth anything? or do u know any good sites where i can look this up? thanks

Answer 1

3 - The Halfpenny

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Farthings <<-- : -->> Three Farthings

Values of Halfpence

Pictures of Halfpence on www.ukcoinpics.co.uk

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Silver HalfPence

The earliest halfpence were minted by Viking and Wessex kings before the creation of an English nation. These coins, and those of the later Saxon Kings are generally extremely rare.

After the Norman Conquest, and prior to the reign of Henry I (1100-1135) halfpence were produced by cutting the silver penny in half. However, eventually coins half the penny in weight were produced. Those of the reigns of Henry I and Henry III have only been discovered during the last few years, and it is not until the reign of Edward I (1272-1307) that the denomination came into general use. Click here for a picture of a Henry VI halfpence of 1422-27.

The early coins are often difficult to identify, especially as there was a rash of Edwards and Henrys in this period, along with a couple of Richards. In addition it is often difficult to read the legend correctly.

The last silver halfpence were produced during the Commonwealth after the Civil War.

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Copper Halfpence

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The first copper halfpenny was minted in 1672 during the reign of Charles II, and the coin was also minted in 1673 and 1675.

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Tin Halfpence

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From 1685 to 1692 halfpence were minted in tin with a copper plug at the centre, in the same manner as the US trial silver centre cent. The coins had no date on the obverse or reverse - you have to look on the edge. The coins tended to corrode readily. This is due to two effects, the first being the presence of two dissimilar metals which has an electrochemical effect, and the other due to the fact that the metallic form of tin is in fact unstable at low temperatures, turning into a non-metallic form known as grey tin.

The metal was used to deter counterfeiting (a problem with copper) and to encourage the tin industry.

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Copper Halfpence (again)

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In 1694 the decision was made to revert to copper for the halfpenny, and an attractive pattern of that date is known. During the reign of William III the quality of these coins deteriorated, with some being cast rather than struck. So many of these coins were in circulation that none were struck during the reign of Queen Anne (1701-1714), although once again a pattern halfpenny is known.

George I

Inevitably a shortage followed in due course, and a new issue was made in 1717, often called the dump issue as the coins were smaller and thicker than before. In 1719 the coin reverted to the previous dimensions, and the issues of George I continued until 1724.

George II

The issues of George II from 1729 to 1754 are very common, with a more elderly portrait being used from 1740. After 1754 none were struck until 1770, and the majority of halfpence in circulation seem to have been forgeries.

George III

The first type similar to that of George II was issued from 1770 until 1775, and then there was a gap until Matthew Boulton struck a larger coin in 1799. There had been plans to strike halfpence and farthings in the cartwheel style, but the government were worried that this would stimulate a demand that Boulton would be unable to fulfil.

Further Boulton coins were struck from 1806-7, although these were somewhat smaller.

The Great Recoinage took place around 1816, and priority was give to gold and silver, so no further George III halfpence were struck.

Halfpenny Trade Tokens

During the period 1787 to 1797, and again between 1811 and 1812, many private trade tokens were manufactured to fill the gap left by the absence of official small change.

A discussion of these pieces is beyond the scope of this web site, but very worn tokens are so common that they have little value.

The following references may be of help if readers wish to pursue the interest further:

The Provincial Token-Coinage of the Eighteenth Century, by Dalton & Hamer

British Tokens and Their Values, Seaby

The Nineteenth Century Token Coinage by W.J.Davis

Silver Token-Coinage 1811-1812 by R.Dalton

George IV

Halfpence were next issued after 14th November 1825. The new coins were smaller still, the diameter of 28mm and weight of around 9.3 grams continuing until 1860. The design on the reverse continued to be a seated Britannia, although there is no indication of value until the bronze issues of 1860.

The halfpence of George IV are of a single main type issued from 1825 to 1827, although there is a scarce die variety of the 1826 coin with one raised line down the arms of the saltire rather than the usual two incuse lines.

William IV

The halfpence of William IV are of a single type with a similar reverse to that of George IV, issued only in 1831, 1834 and 1837.

Victoria

All copper halfpence of Victoria have the following design:

Obverse: Young head left, VICTORIA DEI GRATIA around, date below.

Reverse: Britannia seated facing right, BRITANNIAR: REG: FID: DEF: around, shamrock rose and thistle below.

The are similar in design to the pennies and farthings, although there are subtle differences. Photographs of halfpence can be distinguished by the relatively large lettering on the obverse.

There are two reverse types.

A: No dots on shield (1838-1852, 1857-1860)

B: 7 incuse dots - 2 on the rim of the shield near the base, 3 on the drapery at the top of the shield, 2 on the drapery above the shield (1851-1857).

1851, 1852 and 1857 exist with both reverses. Overdates also exist: 1848 over 7, 1853 over 2 (rare), 1858 over 6 and 1858 over 7, and 1859 over 8.

The copper halfpence of 1860 were never issued for circulation and are very rare. They are worth as much as 1000 UK pounds in Fine condition. The 1845 issue is also very rare.

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Bronze Halfpence

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Victoria

In 1860 all the copper coins were redesigned in a smaller size and were made of bronze rather than copper, as the latter did not wear well. For the first time the denomination appeared on the reverse. The design lasted until 1894, with issues every year.

The obverse shows what is called the Bun portrait of Victoria facing left, with the inscription VICTORIA D:G: BRITT:REG:F:D:. The reverse shows Britannia seated facing right holding a trident and shield, with a lighthouse behind and ship in front, with the inscription HALF PENNY, and the date below in the exergue. The mintmark H, if present, is found centrally below the date up against the rim, as for the farthing.

The new coins had a diameter of 25 mm and weighed about 5.7g, a size which remained the same until 1970.

The design of Queen Victoria's head gradually and subtlely changes as the years pass, reflected her ageing.

The following obverse dies are known used for circulating coins, according to Peck:

1: Outer circle of round beads

2: Toothed outer circle. Wreath of 14 leaves (3,3,2,4,2) and 7 berries (2,2,2,1)

3: Toothed outer circle. Wreath of 15 leaves (3,3,3,4,2) and 4 berries (2,2) Leaf midribs raised lines

4: Toothed outer circle. Wreath of 15 leaves (3,3,3,4,2) and 4 berries (2,2) Four leaf midribs consist of two incuse lines

5: As Obv 4, but seven leaf midribs consist of two incuse lines

6: Wreath of 16 leaves (3,3,4,4,2) and 4 berries (2,2). All leaf midribs raised lines.

7: As Obv 3, but retouched and repolished. HONI SO on shoulder replaced by 2 parallel lines.

8: Older portrait with more aquiline nose. Wreath of 16 leaves (3,3,4,4,2) and 6 berries (2,3,1). Pair of berries in middle group equal in size and with no stalks. HONI S on shoulder. Brooch indistinct.

8*: As Obv 8, but hair at nape of neck retouched.

9: As Obv 8, but pair of berries in middle group unequal in size. Brooch sharp.

10: As Obv 8, but berries in middle group equal in size and with stalks. Brooch sharp

11: As Obv 10, but wave of hair over ear thicker, hair at nape of neck shorter.

12: As Obv 11, but upper pair of berries have long stalks.

13: only occurs in proofs

14: As Obv 11, but hair from ear to bun much less wavy.

15: As Obv 14, but brooch now 7 pearls in oval instead of a rose.

The following reverse dies are known:

A: Outer circle of round beads.

B: Toothed outer circle. Lighthouse tapers, dome small and pointed.

C: Toothed outer circle. Lighthouse thicker and cylindrical, dome rounded.

D: As Rev C, but breastplate details incuse instead of raised.

E: As Rev D, but LCW incuse on rock.

F: No signature. Lighthouse lantern has pointed top and four vertical lines. Breastplate details raised.

G: No signature. Lighthouse lantern has pointed top and no vertical lines. Breastplate details incuse.

J: As Rev F, but incuse hemline on drapery above and to right of shield.

K: As Rev C, but only 2 faint windows on lighthouse. Vertical lines of masonry omitted.

L: As Rev K, but lighthouse is thinner with no windows.

M: As Rev L, but lighthouse has three windows, and the sandal has no straps.

N: As Rev L, but sharp vertical lines on masonry of lighthouse.

O: As Rev N, but linear circle thicker and closer to lighthouse, and the sandal has straps.

P: As R

Answer 2

10p

Answer 3

No very little if they were i would be a millionaire

Answer 4

45,120,000 halfpennies were made in 1941, so unless it is in uncirculated mint condition little value.

Answer 5

It's prob worthless, sorry. The half-penny was very common and there are plenty around.

Answer 6

That particular coin isn't worth anything no, but i had one silver plated just because it's a nice coin (should have a ship on the 'reverse' and King George's head on the obverse). It's a nice coin you should just keep it.

Answer 7

zero