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

Features

Location	United Kingdom
Issuing entity	The Royal Mint
Queen	Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
Type	Standard circulation coin
Years	1954-1970
Value	½ Penny = 1⁄24 Shilling (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 (14^th 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 (56^th 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 Coins 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

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Date	Mintage	G	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC	Frequency
Undetermined
1954	19 375 200	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.65	$ 1.20	$ 1.40	$ 3.70	16%	Rev A
1954				$ 0.15	$ 1.10	$ 1.10			2%	Rev B
1955	18 465 600	$ 0.09	$ 0.37	$ 0.41	$ 0.43	$ 1.00	$ 1.00	$ 3.70	17%
1956	21 799 200	$ 0.14	$ 0.14	$ 0.48	$ 0.57	$ 0.67	$ 0.75		17%	Obv 3 / Rev C
1956									0.6%	Obv 3 / Rev D
1956									0.4%	Obv 4 / Rev D
1957	39 672 000	$ 0.08	$ 0.17	$ 0.25	$ 0.54	$ 1.60			5%	Calm Sea
1957		$ 0.11	$ 0.16	$ 0.18	$ 0.32	$ 0.94	$ 1.10	$ 2.80	22%	Normal Sea
1958	66 331 200	$ 0.08	$ 0.13	$ 0.19	$ 0.39	$ 0.47	$ 0.64	$ 1.20	28%	Rev E
1958					$ 0.10				1.6%	Rev F
1958									0.8%	Rev G
1959	79 176 000	$ 0.10	$ 0.11	$ 0.12	$ 0.32	$ 0.54	$ 0.70	$ 1.20	33%
1960	41 340 000	$ 0.09	$ 0.12	$ 0.16	$ 0.32	$ 0.56	$ 0.75	$ 1.70	24%
1962	41 779 200	$ 0.09	$ 0.12	$ 0.29	$ 0.41	$ 0.67	$ 1.10	$ 1.10	23%
1963	42 720 000	$ 0.09	$ 0.31	$ 0.31	$ 0.54	$ 0.57	$ 0.87	$ 1.60	25%
1964	78 583 200	$ 0.13	$ 0.16	$ 0.26	$ 0.26	$ 0.43	$ 0.43	$ 1.10	33%
1965	98 083 200	$ 0.13	$ 0.20	$ 0.20	$ 0.27	$ 0.28	$ 0.45	$ 0.97	35%
1966	95 289 600	$ 0.13	$ 0.22	$ 0.26	$ 0.28	$ 0.49	$ 0.49	$ 0.97	35%
1967	146 490 400	$ 0.15	$ 0.19	$ 0.29	$ 0.37	$ 0.47	$ 0.54	$ 0.77	45%	Obv 3 - Normal rim
1967			$ 0.20	$ 0.23	$ 0.24	$ 0.24	$ 0.59	$ 1.40	5%	Obv 4 - Wide rim
1970	750 400							$ 3.20	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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This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

Past sales

Pictures	Sale	Date	Version	Grade	Price
	Heritage Auctions Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232252 Lot 65677	22 Dec 2022	1964	UNC (NGC MS65 Red and Brown)	USD 900.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232308 Lot 64409	16 Feb 2023	Undetermined	UNC (NGC MS65 Red and Brown)	USD 432.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions