British Half Penny coin
Encyclopedia
The British
decimal half penny (½p) was first issued on 15 February 1971, the day the British currency was decimalised
. In practice it had been available from banks in bags for some weeks previously.
The decimal half penny, worth 1.2 pre-decimal pence, enabled the prices of some low-value items to be more accurately translated to the new decimal currency. It also allowed the pre-decimal sixpence
to remain in circulation (with a value of 2½ new pence) alongside the new decimal coinage. In the same vein, 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 1.25 new pence), but ended up never being produced.
The half penny coin was minted in bronze. It was the smallest decimal coin by both size and value, weighing 1.78 grams and measuring 17.14 millimetres in diameter. It was nicknamed the "tiddler" on account of its size, and soon became Britain's least favourite coin. The Treasury
had continued to argue that the half penny was important in the fight against inflation (preventing prices from being rounded up), but by the early 1980s it was practically worthless. The 1984 half penny was issued only in mint and proof sets by the Royal Mint
, and the coin was demonetised and withdrawn from circulation in December 1984.
The reverse of the coin, designed by Christopher Ironside
, was simply a crown, with the fraction "½" below the crown, and either NEW PENNY (1971–1981) or HALF PENNY (1982–1984) above the crown.
During the existence of the coin, only one obverse was used – the head of Queen Elizabeth II
by Arnold Machin
, with the inscription ELIZABETH II D.G.REG.F.D. year.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
decimal half penny (½p) was first issued on 15 February 1971, the day the British currency was decimalised
Decimal Day
Decimal Day was the day the United Kingdom and Ireland decimalised their currencies.-Old system:Under the old currency of pounds, shillings and pence, the pound was made up of 240 pence , with 12 pence in a shilling and 20 shillings in a...
. In practice it had been available from banks in bags for some weeks previously.
The decimal half penny, worth 1.2 pre-decimal pence, enabled the prices of some low-value items to be more accurately translated to the new decimal currency. It also allowed the pre-decimal sixpence
British sixpence coin
The sixpence, known colloquially as the tanner, or half-shilling, was a British pre-decimal coin, worth six pence, or 1/40th of a pound sterling....
to remain in circulation (with a value of 2½ new pence) alongside the new decimal coinage. In the same vein, a decimal quarter-penny coin (to be struck in aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
) was also proposed (which would have allowed the pre-decimal threepence to continue to circulate with a value of 1.25 new pence), but ended up never being produced.
The half penny coin was minted in bronze. It was the smallest decimal coin by both size and value, weighing 1.78 grams and measuring 17.14 millimetres in diameter. It was nicknamed the "tiddler" on account of its size, and soon became Britain's least favourite coin. The Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
had continued to argue that the half penny was important in the fight against inflation (preventing prices from being rounded up), but by the early 1980s it was practically worthless. The 1984 half penny was issued only in mint and proof sets by the Royal Mint
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. The Mint originated over 1,100 years ago, but since 2009 it operates as Royal Mint Ltd, a company which has an exclusive contract with HM Treasury to supply all coinage for the UK...
, and the coin was demonetised and withdrawn from circulation in December 1984.
The reverse of the coin, designed by Christopher Ironside
Christopher Ironside
Christopher Ironside FSIA 1970, OBE 1971, FRBS 1977 was an English painter and coin designer, particularly known for the reverse sides of the new British coins issued on decimalisation in 1971....
, was simply a crown, with the fraction "½" below the crown, and either NEW PENNY (1971–1981) or HALF PENNY (1982–1984) above the crown.
During the existence of the coin, only one obverse was used – the head of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
by Arnold Machin
Arnold Machin
Arnold Machin O.B.E, R.A. was a British artist, sculptor, coin and stamp designer.Machin was born in Stoke-on-Trent in 1911. He started work at the age of 14 as an apprentice china painter at the Minton Pottery. During the Depression he learnt to sculpt at Stoke-on-Trent's Art School, which was...
, with the inscription ELIZABETH II D.G.REG.F.D. year.
Mintages
- 1971 ~ 1,394,188,250
- 1972 ~ none
- 1973 ~ 365,680,000
- 1974 ~ *1978 ~ 59,532,000
- 1979 ~ 219,132,000
- 1980 ~ 202,788,000
- 1981 ~ 46,748,000
- 1982 ~ 190,752,000
- 1983 ~ 7,600,000