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{{short description|Demonetised unit of currency that was worth one two-hundredth of a pound sterling}}
{{for|the pre-decimal halfpenny coin|Halfpenny (British pre-decimal coin)}} {{for|the pre-decimal halfpenny coin|Halfpenny (British pre-decimal coin)}}
{{ref improve|date=December 2015}} {{ref improve|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox Coin {{Infobox Coin
| Country = United Kingdom | Country = United Kingdom
| Denomination = Halfpenny | Denomination = Halfpenny
| Value = 0.005 | Value = £0.005
| Unit = ] | Unit =
| Mass = 1.78 | Mass = 1.78
| Diameter = 17.14 | Diameter = 17.14
| Thickness = 1 | Thickness = 1
| Edge = plain | Edge = plain
| Composition = ] | Composition = ]
| Years of Minting = 1971–1984 | Years of Minting = 1971–1984
| Catalog Number = | Catalog Number =
| Obverse = File:British_halfpenny_coin_1971_obverse.png | Obverse = File:British_halfpenny_coin_1971_obverse.png
| Obverse Design = ] | Obverse Design = ]
| Obverse Designer = ] | Obverse Designer = ]
| Obverse Design Date = 1971 | Obverse Design Date = 1971
| Reverse = File:British_halfpenny_coin_1971_reverse.png | Reverse = File:British_halfpenny_coin_1971_reverse.png
| Reverse Design = ] | Reverse Design = ]
| Reverse Designer = ] | Reverse Designer = ]
| Reverse Design Date = 1971 | Reverse Design Date = 1971
|}} |}}
The ] decimal '''halfpenny''' ('''½p''') coin was introduced in February 1971, at the time of ], and was worth one two-hundredth of a pound sterling. It was ignored in banking transactions, which were carried out in units of 1p. The ] decimal '''halfpenny''' ('''{{frac|1|2}}p''') ] was a denomination of ] introduced in February 1971, at the time of ], and was worth {{frac|1|200}} of one ]. It was ignored in banking transactions, which were carried out in units of ].


The decimal halfpenny had the same value as 1.2 pre-decimal pence, and was introduced to enable the prices of some low-value items to be more accurately translated to the new decimal currency. The possibility of setting prices including an odd half penny also made it more practical to retain the pre-decimal ] in circulation (with a value of 2½ new pence) alongside the new decimal coinage. The decimal halfpenny had the same value as 1.2 pre-decimal pence, and was introduced to enable the prices of some low-value items to be more accurately translated to the new decimal currency. The possibility of setting prices including an odd half penny also made it more practical to retain the pre-decimal ] in circulation (with a value of {{sfrac|2|1|2}} new pence) alongside the new decimal coinage.


The halfpenny coin's obverse featured the profile of ]; the reverse featured an image of ]. It was minted in bronze (like the 1p and 2p coins). It was the smallest decimal coin in both size and value. The size was in proportion to the 1p and 2p coins. It soon became Britain's least favourite coin.<ref name="BBCNews">, ''BBC News''</ref> ] had continued to argue that the halfpenny was important in the fight against inflation (preventing prices from being rounded up).<ref name="BBCNews"/> The coin was demonetised and ] in December 1984.<ref name="BBCNews"/> The halfpenny coin's ] featured the profile of ]; the ] featured an image of ]. It was minted in bronze (like the 1p and 2p coins). It was the smallest decimal coin in both size and value, the size being in proportion to 1p and 2p coins.
The halfpenny soon became Britain's least favourite coin.<ref name="BBCNews">, ''BBC News''</ref> ] argued the halfpenny was important in the fight against inflation, as it prevented prices from being rounded up.<ref name="BBCNews"/> Nevertheless, the coin was ] and ] in December 1984.<ref name="BBCNews"/>


==Design== ==Design==
The ] of the coin, designed by ], was a representation of ], with the numeral "½" below the crown, and either {{small|NEW PENNY}} (1971–1981) or {{small|HALF PENNY}} (1982–1984) above the crown. The reverse of the coin, designed by ], was a representation of ], with the numeral "{{sfrac|1|2}}" below the crown, and either {{small|NEW PENNY}} (1971–1981) or {{small|HALF PENNY}} (1982–1984) above the crown. Only one design for the ] was used on the halfpenny coin. The inscription around the portrait on the obverse was {{small|ELIZABETH II ] 19xx}},<ref name="bcoins">{{cite web|url=http://www.coins-of-the-uk.co.uk/decha.html|first=Tony|last=Clayton|title=Decimal Coins of the UK - Halfpenny|access-date=2006-05-24}}</ref> where 19xx was the year of minting. Both sides of the coin are encircled by dots, a common feature on coins known as beading.


⚫ As on all decimal coins produced before 1984, the portrait of ] by ] appeared on the obverse;<ref name="design">{{cite web|url=http://www.royalmint.com/RoyalMint/web/site/Corporate/Corp_british_coinage/CoinDesign/1pCoin.asp|title=1p Coin|publisher=British Royal Mint|access-date=2006-05-23 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060427104248/http://www.royalmint.com/RoyalMint/web/site/Corporate/Corp_british_coinage/CoinDesign/1pCoin.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2006-04-27}}</ref> in this portrait the Queen wears the ].
Only one design of ] was used on the halfpenny coin. The inscription around the portrait on the obverse was {{small|ELIZABETH II ] 19xx}},<ref name="bcoins">{{cite web|url=http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/decbr.html|first=Tony|last=Clayton|title=Decimal Coins of the UK - Bronze|accessdate=2006-05-24}}</ref> where 19xx was the year of minting. Both sides of the coin are encircled by dots, a common feature on coins, known as beading.


== Status ==
⚫ As on all decimal coins produced before 1984, the portrait of ] by ] appeared on the obverse;<ref name="design">{{cite web|url=http://www.royalmint.com/RoyalMint/web/site/Corporate/Corp_british_coinage/CoinDesign/1pCoin.asp|title=1p Coin|publisher=British Royal Mint|accessdate=2006-05-23 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060427104248/http://www.royalmint.com/RoyalMint/web/site/Corporate/Corp_british_coinage/CoinDesign/1pCoin.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2006-04-27}}</ref> in this portrait the Queen wears the ].
The half penny coin was ] for amounts not exceeding 20 pence.<ref>{{Cite legislation UK
| type = act
| year = 1971
| chapter = 24
| number =
| act = Coinage Act 1971
| section = 2
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.royalmint.com/help/trm-faqs/legal-tender-amounts/|title=What are the legal tender amounts acceptable for UK coins? {{!}} The Royal Mint|website=www.royalmint.com|access-date=2019-05-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/legal-updates/defence-of-tender-before-claim-/5052433.article|title=Defence of tender before claim|last=November 2015|first=Masood Ahmed|website=Law Society Gazette|language=en|access-date=2019-05-05}}</ref>


==Mintages== ==Mintages==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: right;"
Annual number of coins released into general circulation (excludes proof sets)<ref>{{Cite book|title = Standard Catalog of World Coins - 1901-2000|last = Michael|first = Michael|publisher = Krause Publications|year = 2013|isbn = 1440229627|location = |pages = 990}}</ref>{{colbegin||25em}}
|+Number of decimal halfpenny coins minted for circulation by year<ref>{{Cite book|title = Standard Catalog of World Coins - 1901-2000|last = Michael|first = Michael|publisher = Krause Publications|year = 2013|isbn = 978-1440229626|pages = |url-access = registration|url = https://archive.org/details/2012standardcata00geor/page/990}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk/_literature_118670/Royal_Mint_Museum_Mintage_Figures|title=Mintage Figures: United Kingdom Decimal Coins issued into general circulation up to 31 December 2012|website=www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk|pages=2–3|access-date=2019-06-29|archive-date=2019-11-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102174843/http://www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk/_literature_118670/Royal_Mint_Museum_Mintage_Figures|url-status=dead}}</ref>
⚫ *1971 ~ 1,394,188,251
! Year
⚫ *1972 ~ In proof sets only
! Number minted
*1973 ~ 365,680,000
|-
*1974 ~ 365,448,000
⚫ | 1971 || 1,394,188,251
⚫ *1975 ~ 197,600,000
|-
⚫ *1976 ~ 412,172,000
⚫ | 1972 || data-sort-value="0" | In proof sets only
⚫ *1977 ~ 66,368,000
|-
⚫ *1978 ~ 59,532,000
*1979 ~ 219,132,000 | 1973 || 365,680,000
|-
⚫ *1980 ~ 202,788,000
*1981 ~ 46,748,000 | 1974 || 365,448,000
|-
⚫ *1982 ~ 190,752,000
*1983 ~ 7,600,000 | 1975 || 197,600,000
|-
*1984 ~ In proof sets only{{colend}}
⚫ | 1976 || 412,172,000
|-
⚫ | 1977 || 66,368,000
|-
⚫ | 1978 || 59,532,000
|-
| 1979 || 219,132,000
|-
⚫ | 1980 || 202,788,000
|-
| 1981 || 46,748,000
|-
⚫ | 1982 || 190,752,000
|-
⚫ | 1983 || 7,600,000
|-
| 1984 || data-sort-value="0" | In proof and uncirculated sets only
|}
Mint sets have been produced since 1982; where mintages on or after that date indicate 'none', there are examples contained within those sets.


==Proposed quarter penny coin== ==Proposed quarter penny coin==
A decimal quarter-penny coin (to be struck in ]) was also proposed (which would have allowed the pre-decimal ] to continue to circulate with a value of 1.25 new pence), but was never produced.<ref>, Tony Clayton</ref> A decimal quarter-penny coin (to be struck in ]) was also proposed (which would have allowed the pre-decimal ] to continue to circulate with a value of {{nowrap|{{frac|1|1|4}} new pence}}), but was never produced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/dec.html|title=The Change to Decimal Coinage|author=Tony Clayton|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080329024627/http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/dec.html|archive-date=2008-03-29|access-date=2008-04-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rct.uk/collection/443839/elizabeth-ii-uniface-pattern-quarter-decimal-pence-type-ii|title=Royal Mint - Elizabeth II Uniface pattern Quarter decimal pence. Type II.|website=www.rct.uk|language=en|access-date=2020-04-15}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
{{Portal|Money|Numismatics|United Kingdom}}
* ] * ]


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==External links== ==External links==
⚫ *
*
⚫ *
⚫ *
⚫ *
{{British coinage}} {{British coinage}}


] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]

Latest revision as of 16:40, 24 November 2024

Demonetised unit of currency that was worth one two-hundredth of a pound sterling For the pre-decimal halfpenny coin, see Halfpenny (British pre-decimal coin).
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Halfpenny" British decimal coin – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Halfpenny
United Kingdom
Value£0.005
Mass1.78 g
Diameter17.14 mm
Thickness1 mm
Edgeplain
Compositionbronze
Years of minting1971–1984
Obverse
DesignQueen Elizabeth II
DesignerArnold Machin
Design date1971
Reverse
DesignSt Edward's Crown
DesignerChristopher Ironside
Design date1971

The British decimal halfpenny (1⁄2p) coin was a denomination of sterling coinage introduced in February 1971, at the time of decimalisation, and was worth 1⁄200 of one pound. It was ignored in banking transactions, which were carried out in units of 1p.

The decimal halfpenny had the same value as 1.2 pre-decimal pence, and was introduced to enable the prices of some low-value items to be more accurately translated to the new decimal currency. The possibility of setting prices including an odd half penny also made it more practical to retain the pre-decimal sixpence in circulation (with a value of ⁠2+1/2⁠ new pence) alongside the new decimal coinage.

The halfpenny coin's obverse featured the profile of Queen Elizabeth II; the reverse featured an image of St Edward's Crown. It was minted in bronze (like the 1p and 2p coins). It was the smallest decimal coin in both size and value, the size being in proportion to 1p and 2p coins.

The halfpenny soon became Britain's least favourite coin. The UK Treasury argued the halfpenny was important in the fight against inflation, as it prevented prices from being rounded up. Nevertheless, the coin was demonetised and withdrawn from circulation in December 1984.

Design

The reverse of the coin, designed by Christopher Ironside, was a representation of St Edward's Crown, with the numeral "⁠1/2⁠" below the crown, and either NEW PENNY (1971–1981) or HALF PENNY (1982–1984) above the crown. Only one design for the obverse was used on the halfpenny coin. The inscription around the portrait on the obverse was ELIZABETH II D.G.REG.F.D. 19xx, where 19xx was the year of minting. Both sides of the coin are encircled by dots, a common feature on coins known as beading.

As on all decimal coins produced before 1984, the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin appeared on the obverse; in this portrait the Queen wears the 'Girls of Great Britain and Ireland' Tiara.

Status

The half penny coin was legal tender for amounts not exceeding 20 pence.

Mintages

Number of decimal halfpenny coins minted for circulation by year
Year Number minted
1971 1,394,188,251
1972 In proof sets only
1973 365,680,000
1974 365,448,000
1975 197,600,000
1976 412,172,000
1977 66,368,000
1978 59,532,000
1979 219,132,000
1980 202,788,000
1981 46,748,000
1982 190,752,000
1983 7,600,000
1984 In proof and uncirculated sets only

Mint sets have been produced since 1982; where mintages on or after that date indicate 'none', there are examples contained within those sets.

Proposed quarter penny coin

A decimal quarter-penny coin (to be struck in aluminium) was also proposed (which would have allowed the pre-decimal threepence to continue to circulate with a value of 1+1⁄4 new pence), but was never produced.

See also

References

  1. ^ 1984: Halfpenny coin to meet its maker, BBC News
  2. Clayton, Tony. "Decimal Coins of the UK - Halfpenny". Retrieved 2006-05-24.
  3. "1p Coin". British Royal Mint. Archived from the original on 2006-04-27. Retrieved 2006-05-23.
  4. "Coinage Act 1971: Section 2", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1971 c. 24 (s. 2)
  5. "What are the legal tender amounts acceptable for UK coins? | The Royal Mint". www.royalmint.com. Retrieved 2019-05-05.
  6. November 2015, Masood Ahmed. "Defence of tender before claim". Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 2019-05-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. Michael, Michael (2013). Standard Catalog of World Coins - 1901-2000. Krause Publications. pp. 990. ISBN 978-1440229626.
  8. "Mintage Figures: United Kingdom Decimal Coins issued into general circulation up to 31 December 2012". www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk. pp. 2–3. Archived from the original on 2019-11-02. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  9. Tony Clayton. "The Change to Decimal Coinage". Archived from the original on 2008-03-29. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  10. "Royal Mint - Elizabeth II Uniface pattern Quarter decimal pence. Type II". www.rct.uk. Retrieved 2020-04-15.

External links

Sterling coinage
Decimal system
£sd system
Commemorative
Bullion
See also
Categories: