½ Penny - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; without 'BRITT:OMN'

Features

Issuer United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies)
Queen Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
Type Standard circulation coin
Years 1954-1970
Value ½ Penny (1⁄480)
Currency Pound sterling (1158-1970)
Composition Bronze
Weight 5.67 g
Diameter 25.4 mm
Thickness 1.3 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized 1 August 1969
Number
N#
5824
References KM# 896,
Tracy L. Schmidt (editor); 2019. Standard Catalog of World Coins / 2001-Date (14th edition). Krause Publications, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States.
And 5 more volumes.
Sp# 4158
Emma Howard (editor); 2021. Standard Catalogue of British Coins : Coins of England & the United Kingdom Pre-Decimal Issues (56th edition). Spink & Son, London, United Kingdom.
And 2 more volumes.

Obverse

Young laureate bust of Queen Elizabeth II right, legend around.

Note: without 'BRITT:OMN'

Script: Latin

Lettering: +ELIZABETH·II·DEI·GRATIA·REGINA·F:D:

Unabridged legend: Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensatrix

Translation: Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God Queen Defender of the Faith

Engraver: Mary Gillick

Reverse

Three-masted ship sailing left, denomination above, date below.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
HALF PENNY
HP
1958

Engraver: Thomas Humphrey Paget

Edge

Plain

Mint

Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom (1810-1975)

Comments

House of Windsor (1917 to date), Elizabeth II (1952-2022), Pre-decimal issues (1953-70).

The standard weight of these pieces was 80 to the pound avoirdupois (1/5 ounce or 87½ grains).

The ship featured on the reverse design, which first appeared on the 1937 halfpenny pattern of Edward VIII, is based on Sir Francis Drake's Golden Hind, in which he became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe between 1577 and 1580.

We are indebted to Declan Magee and Numista member Sjoelund for their kind permission to reproduce the images below which list some of the varieties for this series.

In 1954 there were two reverse varieties:
1954 - Reverse A - L of HALF at a bead, smaller teeth
1954 - Reverse B - L of HALF between beads, longer teeth

In 1956 there were four obverse/reverse varieties:
1956 - Obverse 3 / Reverse C - D of DEI between beads, I of DEI nearly at a bead, L of HALF between beads
1956 - Obverse 3 / Reverse D - D of DEI between beads, I of DEI nearly at a bead, L of HALF at a bead
1956 - Obverse 4 / Reverse C - D of DEI at a bead, I of DEI between beads, L of HALF between beads
1956 - Obverse 4 / Reverse D - D of DEI at a bead, I of DEI between beads, L of HALF at a bead

In 1957 there were two reverse varieties:
On the left - Calm Sea
On the right - Normal (rough) Sea

In 1958 there were three reverse varieties:
1958 - Reverse E - 18.75 mm from mainmast to base of sea
1958 - Reverse F - 19.00 mm from mainmast to base of sea
1958 - Reverse G - 19.00 mm from mainmast to base of sea, shorter border teeth
In 1967 there were two rim varieties:
1967 - Obverse 3 - Normal (narrow) rim, I of GRATIA directly at a tooth
1967 - Obverse 4 - Wide rim, I of GRATIA slightly to the left of a tooth

For more about Halfpenny die variations:
http://www.brushwood.mintrasystems.com/cn1-shiphalfpenny.pdf

The 1970-dated proof strikes were issued as part of the 'Last Sterling' mint set which comprised
half crown to halfpenny and were produced over the course of several years:
01/04/71-31/03/72 = 69,763
01/04/72-31/03/73 = 586,554
01/04/73-31/03/74 = 74,293
01/04/74-31/03/75 = 19,814

See also

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Date Mintage G VG F VF XF AU UNC Frequency
1954  19 375 200 $ 0.12 $ 0.12 $ 0.12 $ 0.65 $ 1.30 $ 1.50 $ 3.80 16% Rev A
1954  $ 0.25 $ 1.10 $ 1.10 3% Rev B
1955  18 465 600 $ 0.07 $ 0.37 $ 0.37 $ 0.43 $ 1.00 $ 1.00 $ 3.00 17%
1956  21 799 200 $ 0.15 $ 0.15 $ 0.49 $ 0.61 $ 0.61 $ 0.61 18% Obv 3 / Rev C
1956  $ 2.90 0.6% Obv 3 / Rev D
1956  $ 0.59 0.4% Obv 4 / Rev D
1957  39 672 000 $ 0.11 $ 0.32 $ 0.47 $ 0.54 $ 1.60 5% Calm Sea
1957  $ 0.10 $ 0.13 $ 0.18 $ 0.33 $ 0.92 $ 1.20 $ 2.60 22% Normal Sea
1958  66 331 200 $ 0.08 $ 0.12 $ 0.20 $ 0.39 $ 0.48 $ 0.57 $ 1.10 28% Rev E
1958  $ 0.10 $ 0.36 1.7% Rev F
1958  0.8% Rev G
1959  79 176 000 $ 0.10 $ 0.11 $ 0.12 $ 0.33 $ 0.54 $ 0.66 $ 1.20 33%
1960  41 340 000 $ 0.09 $ 0.12 $ 0.15 $ 0.33 $ 0.56 $ 0.75 $ 1.80 24%
1962  41 779 200 $ 0.08 $ 0.13 $ 0.27 $ 0.41 $ 0.69 $ 0.72 $ 0.94 23%
1963  42 720 000 $ 0.09 $ 0.31 $ 0.31 $ 0.54 $ 0.58 $ 0.87 $ 1.60 25%
1964  Photo 78 583 200 $ 0.12 $ 0.14 $ 0.25 $ 0.26 $ 0.40 $ 0.40 $ 1.10 33%
1965  98 083 200 $ 0.13 $ 0.20 $ 0.21 $ 0.27 $ 0.29 $ 0.34 $ 0.97 35%
1966  95 289 600 $ 0.13 $ 0.20 $ 0.26 $ 0.28 $ 0.50 $ 0.50 $ 0.98 35%
1967  146 490 400 $ 0.14 $ 0.14 $ 0.27 $ 0.37 $ 0.48 $ 0.54 $ 0.78 45% Obv 3 - Normal rim
1967  $ 0.11 $ 0.17 $ 0.23 $ 0.23 $ 0.99 $ 0.99 5% Obv 4 - Wide rim
1970  750 400 $ 3.30 6% Proof

Values in the table above are expressed in USD. They are based on evaluations by Numista users and sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only; they are not intended to be relied upon for buying, selling or exchanging. Numista does not buy or sell coins or banknotes.

Frequencies show the percentage of Numista users who own each year or variety among all the users who own this coin. Since some users own several versions, the sum may be greater than 100%.

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Past sales

Pictures Sale Date Version Grade Sold price
Heritage Auctions
Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232343
Lot 64265
Internet Archive
19 Oct 2023 1964 UNC
(NGC MS65 Brown)
USD 85.00
(incl. buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Penny - Elizabeth II (1st portrait; without 'BRITT:OMN')Picture 1 of a sold ½ Penny - Elizabeth II (1st portrait; without 'BRITT:OMN')Picture 1 of a sold ½ Penny - Elizabeth II (1st portrait; without 'BRITT:OMN')Picture 1 of a sold ½ Penny - Elizabeth II (1st portrait; without 'BRITT:OMN')
Heritage Auctions
Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232252
Lot 65677
Internet Archive
22 Dec 2022 1964 UNC
(NGC MS65 Red and Brown)
USD 900.00
(incl. buyer's premium)
Heritage Auctions
Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232308
Lot 64409
Internet Archive
16 Feb 2023 Undetermined UNC
(NGC MS65 Red and Brown)
USD 432.00
(incl. buyer's premium)
See the sales

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