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The half-crown was a denomination of British money worth two shillings and sixpence, being 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 half-crowns were issued in every reign except Edward VIII, until the coins were discontinued in 1967. The half-crown was demonetised (ahead of other pre-decimal coins) on 1 January 1970, the year before the United Kingdom adopted decimal currency.

During the English Interregnum of 1649-1660, a republican half-crown was issued, bearing the arms of the Commonwealth of England, despite the name of the coin's monarchist associations. When Oliver Cromwell made himself Lord Protector of England, half-crowns were issued bearing his semi-royal portrait.

Interestingly, the half-crown did not display its value on the reverse until 1893.

The half-crown coin was nicknamed the "half-dollar".

[edit] History of the Half-crown by Reign

• Henry VIII of England 1526: The first British Half Crown was struck in gold.
• Edward VI of England 1551: Issued the first Half Crown in Silver. The coin was dated and showed the King riding a horse.
• 1554 – Mary of England married Philip II of Spain and the Half Crown was struck but was never issued for circulation. Three specimens exist.
• Elizabeth I of England gold Half Crowns were issued again. At the end of the reign silver half crowns were issued.
• James I of England gold Half Crowns were issued again. During the reign silver half crowns were issued.
• Charles I of England Silver Half Crowns were issued, including those struck as OBSIDINAL money, money of necessity during the Civil War period.
• Commonwealth of England Oliver Cromwell silver Half Crowns were issued. During years 1656 and 1658 Milled Half Crowns were issued of Oliver Cromwell
• Charles II of England 1663-1685 Silver Half Crowns were issued, and this period saw the end of the hammered issue of half crowns.
• James II of England 1685-1688 Silver Half Crown
• William & Mary of England 1689-1694 Silver Half Crown
• William III of England 1694-1702 Silver Half Crown
• Anne of Great Britain 1702-1714 Silver Half Crown
• George I of Great Britain 1714-1727 Silver Half Crown
• George II of Great Britain 1727-1760 Silver Half Crown
• George III of Great Britain 1760-1820 Silver Half Crown
• George IV of Great Britain 1820-1830 Silver Half Crown
• William IV of the United Kingdom 1830-1837 Silver Half Crown
• Victoria of the United Kingdom 1837-1901 Silver Half Crown
• Edward VII of the United Kingdom 1902-1910 Silver Half Crown
• George V of the United Kingdom 1910-1936 Silver Half Crown Sterling silver (92½% silver) until 1919, then 50% silver
• Edward VIII of the United Kingdom 1936 50% Silver Half Crown Not issued for circulation.
• George VI of the United Kingdom 1937-1952 50% Silver Half Crowns were issued until 1946 when the metal was changed to cupro-nickel
• Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 1952- The last Half Crown was issued in 1970 at the time of decimalisation

[edit] Mintages

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Victoria	(Jubilee)
1887	1,438,046  1,084		1890	3,228,111
1888	1,428,787		1891	2,284,632
1889	4,811,954		1892	1,710,946
Victoria	(Old Head)
1893	1,792,600  1,312		1898	1,870,055
1894	1,524,960		1899	2,865,872
1895	1,772,662		1900	4,479,128
1896	2,148,505		1901	1,516,570
1897	1,678,643
Edward VII
1902	1,316,008  15,123		1907	3,693,930
1903	274,840		1908	1,758,889
1904	709,652		1909	3,051,592
1905	166,008		1910	2,557,685
1906	2,886,206
George V
1911	2,914,573  6,007		1924	5,866,294
1912	4,700,789		1925	1,413,461
1913	4.090.169		1926	4,473,516
1914	18,333,003		1927	6,837,872  15,000
1915	32,433,066		1928	18,762,727
1916	29,530,020		1929	17,632,636
1917	11,172,052		1930	809,051
1918	29,079,592		1931	11,264,468
1919	10,266,737		1932	4,793,643
1920	17,982,077		1933	10,311,494
1921	23,677,889		1934	2,422,399
1922	16,396,724		1935	7,022,216
1923	26,308,526		1936	7,039,423
George VI
1937	9,106,440  26,402		1945	19,849,242
1938	6,426,478		1946	22,724,873
1939	15,478,635		1947	21,911,484
1940	17,948,439		1948	71,164,703
1941	15,773,984		1949	28,272,512
1942	31,220,090		1950	28,335,500
1943	15,462,875		1951	9,003,520
1944	15,255,165		1952	n/m
Elizabeth II
1953	4,333,214  40,000		1961	25,887,897
1954	11,614,953		1962	24,013,312
1955	23,628,726		1963	17,625,200
1956	33,934,909		1964	5,973,600
1957	34,200,563		1965	9,778,440
1958	15,745,668		1966	13,375,200
1959	9,028,844		1967	33,058,400
1960	19,929,191

[edit] See also

• Irish half-crown coin

British coinage
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