Halfpenny (British pre-decimal coin)

The British pre-decimal halfpenny (pronounced ), once abbreviated ob. (from the Latin 'obulus'), is a discontinued denomination of sterling coinage worth of one pound, of one shilling, or of one penny. Originally the halfpenny was minted in copper, but after 1860 it was minted in bronze. In the run-up to decimalisation, it ceased to be legal tender from 31 July 1969 (although halfpennies dated 1970 were minted as part of a final pre-decimal commemorative set). The halfpenny featured two different designs on its reverse during its years in circulation. From 1672 until 1936 the image of Britannia appeared on the reverse, and from 1937 onwards the image of the Golden Hind appeared. Like all British coinage, it bore the portrait of the monarch on the obverse.Michael, Thomas and Cuhaj, George S. Collecting World Coins: Circulating Issues 1901 – Present. Krause Publications, 2001.

"Halfpenny" was colloquially written ha'penny, and "d" was spoken as "a penny ha'penny" or three ha'pence . "Halfpenny" is a rare example of a word in the English language that has a silent 'f'.

Before Decimal Day in 1971, sterling used the Carolingian monetary system, under which the largest unit was a pound divided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence. Each penny was further divided into 4 farthings, thus a pound contained 480 halfpennies and a shilling contained 24 halfpennies.

While the halfpenny is no longer in circulation, it continues to be used by enthusiasts of the traditional British pub game, shove ha'penny.

Design

The original reverse of the bronze version of the coin, designed by Leonard Charles Wyon, is a seated Britannia, holding a trident, with the words to either sides. Issues before 1895 also feature a lighthouse to Britannia's left and a ship to her right. Various minor adjustments to the level of the sea depicted around Britannia, and the angle of her trident were also made over the years. Some issues feature toothed edges, while others feature beading.

Over the years, various different obverses were used. Edward VII, George V, George VI and Elizabeth II each had a single obverse for halfpennies produced during their respective reigns. Over the long reign of Queen Victoria two different obverses were used, but the short reign of Edward VIII meant no halfpennies bearing his likeness were ever issued.

During Victoria's reign, the halfpenny was first issued with the so-called 'bun head', or 'draped bust' of Queen Victoria on the obverse. The inscription around the bust read . This was replaced in 1895 by the 'old head', or 'veiled bust'. The inscription on these coins read .

Coins issued during the reign of Edward VII feature his likeness and bear the inscription . Similarly, those issued during the reign of George V feature his likeness and bear the inscription .

A halfpenny of King Edward VIII (1936) does exist, dated 1937, but technically it is a pattern coin i.e. one produced for official approval; it would probably have been due to receive this approval at about the time that the King abdicated. The obverse shows a left-facing portrait of the king (who considered this to be his better side, and consequently broke the tradition of alternating the direction in which the monarch faces on coins – some viewed this as indicating bad luck for the reign); the inscription on the obverse is .

The pattern coin of Edward VIII and regular issue halfpennies of George VI and Elizabeth II feature a redesigned reverse displaying Sir Francis Drake's ship the Golden Hind.

George VI issue coins feature the inscription before 1949, and thereafter. Unlike the penny, halfpennies were minted throughout the early reign of Elizabeth II, bearing the inscription in 1953, and thereafter.

Mintages

Victoria (Veiled bust) 1895 ~ 3,032,000 1896 ~ 9,143,000 1897 ~ 8,690,000 1898 ~ 8,595,000 1899 ~ 12,108,000 1900 ~ 13,805,000 1901 ~ 11,127,000 Edward VII 1902 ~ 13,673,000 1903 ~ 11,451,000 1904 ~ 8,131,000 1905 ~ 10,125,000 1906 ~ 11,101,000 1907 ~ 16,849,000 1908 ~ 16,620,999 1909 ~ 8,279,000 1910 ~ 10,770,000 George V 1911 ~ 12,571,000 1912 ~ 21,186,000 1913 ~ 17,476,000 1914 ~ 20,289,000 1915 ~ 21,563,000 1916 ~ 39,386,000 1917 ~ 38,245,000 1918 ~ 22,321,000 1919 ~ 28,104,000 1920 ~ 35,147,000 1921 ~ 28,027,000 1922 ~ 10,735,000 1923 ~ 12,266,000 1924 ~ 13,971,000 1925 ~ 12,216,000 1926 ~ 6,712,000 1927 ~ 15,590,000 1928 ~ 20,935,000 1929 ~ 25,680,000 1930 ~ 12,533,000 1931 ~ 16,138,000 1932 ~ 14,448,000 1933 ~ 10,580,000 1934 ~ 7,704,000 1935 ~ 12,180,000 1936 ~ 22,009,000 George VI 1937 ~ 24,504,000 1938 ~ 40,320,000 1939 ~ 28,925,000 1940 ~ 32,162,000 1941 ~ 45,120,000 1942 ~ 71,909,000 1943 ~ 76,200,000 1944 ~ 81,840,000 1945 ~ 57,000,000 1946 ~ 22,726,000 1947 ~ 21,226,000 1948 ~ 26,947,000 1949 ~ 24,744,000 1950 ~ 24,154,000 1951 ~ 14,868,000 1952 ~ 33,278,000 Elizabeth II 1953 ~ 8,926,000 1954 ~ 19,375,000 1955 ~ 18,799,000 1956 ~ 21,799,000 1957 ~ 43,684,000 1958 ~ 62,318,000 1959 ~ 79,176,000 1960 ~ 41,340,000 1962 ~ 41,779,000 1963 ~ 45,036,000 1964 ~ 78,583,000 1965 ~ 98,083,000 1966 ~ 95,289,000 1967 ~ 146,491,000 1970 ~ 750,000 (souvenir sets only)

Terminology Ha'porth: British English i.e. 'halfpenny-worth' or 'halfpennyworth' pronounced . (via Internet Archive WayBack Machine: 2 Oct 2019)

In literal use usually written out in fullDid I hear you "aright"?PhD General Linguistics, UCL Psychology & Language SciencesProfessor Emeritus John Christopher Wells' C.V. (via Internet Archive) although still never pronounced phonetically: e.g. "A halfpennyworth of chips." Also used in the once common phrase: "daft ha'porth."Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine:

In figurative use usually said disparagingly: e.g. "I've been dying for somebody with a ha'porth of wit and intelligence to talk to."Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "...and saying it doesn't make a halfpennyworth of difference!"Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: . circa 22 min. & 33. sec. in. (from Alan Bennett's A lady of Letters, written and produced in 1987, some sixteen years after decimalisation and three years after the New Halfpenny—(i.e. the decimal p)—had been demonetised and withdrawn from circulation, thus further illustrating the continued traditional or idiomatic two-syllable pronunciation).

Halfpenny (British pre-decimal coin)

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