½ Penny - Elizabeth II 1st portrait

Features

Issuer	New Zealand
Queen	Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
Type	Standard circulation coins
Years	1953-1965
Value	½ Penny (1⁄480)
Currency	Pound (1840-1967)
Composition	Bronze
Weight	5.6 g
Diameter	25.4 mm
Thickness	1.6 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized	Yes
Number	N# 3922
References	KM# 23.1, 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).

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Obverse

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

Note: varieties exist with or without shoulder strap (see below)

Script: Latin

Lettering:
QUEEN·ELIZABETH·THE·SECOND +
M·G·

Engraver: Mary Gillick

Reverse

A Hei-tiki (ornamental Māori pendant) with Māori ornamental scrolls on each side, legend around, date below.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
NEW ZEALAND HALF PENNY
· 1965 ·

Designer: Leonard Cornwall Mitchell

Edge

Plain

Mint

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

Comments

The BU Uncirculated Sets issued in 1965, which was the last year of minting of the pre-decimal coins, came in three different versions.

The Pink Label Set included just ordinary circulation coins that had not gone into circulation.
The Green Label Set included selected circulation coins that had not gone into circulation.
Together the Pink & Green Label sets had a mintage figure of 175,000 in total.

The Blue Label Set included special selected and polished uncirculated coins. Sometimes described as "Prooflike".
The Blue Label set had a mintage of 25,000 in total.

Obverse die varieties:
KM#23.1 (1953-55) no shoulder strap;
KM#23.2 (1956-65) with shoulder strap.

Present in sets

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Date	Mintage	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC	References		Frequency
Undetermined
1953	727 000	$ 0.36	$ 1.10	$ 1.70			KM# 23.1 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).		10%
1953							KM# 23.1 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).	Matte Proof	0.3%
1953						$ 9.30	KM# 23.1 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).	Proof	1.0%
1954	240 000		$ 1.10	$ 6.20			KM# 23.1 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).		6%
1954							KM# 23.1 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).	Proof	0.11%
1955	240 000		$ 0.73	$ 4.90			KM# 23.1 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).		5%
1956	1 200 000	$ 0.67	$ 1.10	$ 2.10	$ 2.10	$ 2.20	KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).		11%
1956							KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).	Proof	0.4%
1957	1 440 000	$ 0.69	$ 0.88	$ 2.30	$ 2.30	$ 2.30	KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).		12%
1957							KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).	Proof	0.2%
1958	1 920 000		$ 0.73	$ 2.60	$ 5.20		KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).		12%
1958							KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).	Proof	0.3%
1959	1 920 000	$ 0.58	$ 1.10	$ 1.90	$ 1.90		KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).		13%
1959							KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).	Proof	0.3%
1960	2 400 000		$ 1.40	$ 1.90	$ 3.20	$ 3.20	KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).		18%
1960							KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).	Proof	0.4%
1961	2 880 000	$ 1.20	$ 1.20	$ 1.20	$ 1.20	$ 1.20	KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).		19%
1961							KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).	Proof	0.3%
1962	2 880 000	$ 0.25	$ 1.00	$ 1.60	$ 2.30	$ 2.30	KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).		26%
1962							KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).	Proof	0.4%
1963	1 680 000	$ 0.67	$ 1.00	$ 1.00	$ 1.10	$ 1.20	KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).		20%
1963						$ 280	KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).	Proof	0.6%
1964	2 880 000	$ 0.12	$ 1.00	$ 1.00	$ 1.70	$ 1.70	KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).		28%
1964							KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).	Proof	0.5%
1965	5 200 000	$ 0.16	$ 0.79	$ 0.79	$ 1.20	$ 2.20	KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).		30%
1965	175 000					$ 1.70	KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).	BU Year Set	4%
1965	25 000					$ 2.00	KM# 23.2 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes).	Prooflike	1.8%

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	Sold price
	Heritage Auctions 2026 January 22 - 23 NYINC World & Ancient Coins Signature Auction 3130 Lot 35209	22 Jan 2026	1954 – KM# 23.1 – Proof	UNC (NGC PR64 Brown)	USD 793.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions 2024 June 16 Spotlight: Coins of the British Empire World Coins Showcase Auction 61390 Lot 22295	16 Jun 2024	1958 – KM# 23.2 – Proof	UNC (PCGS PR63 Red and Brown)	USD 1140.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions 2023 November 19 Spotlight: Coins of the British Empire World Coins Showcase Auction 61348 Lot 25201	19 Nov 2023	1960 – KM# 23.2 – Proof	UNC (PCGS PR62 Red and Brown)	USD 480.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions 2024 June 16 Spotlight: Coins of the British Empire World Coins Showcase Auction 61390 Lot 22297	16 Jun 2024	1962 – KM# 23.2 – Proof	UNC (NGC PR64 Red and Brown Cameo)	USD 600.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions 2024 June 16 Spotlight: Coins of the British Empire World Coins Showcase Auction 61390 Lot 22298	16 Jun 2024	1963 – KM# 23.2 – Proof	UNC (PCGS PR63 Red Cameo)	USD 576.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions 2023 November 19 Spotlight: Coins of the British Empire World Coins Showcase Auction 61348 Lot 25202	19 Nov 2023	1963 – KM# 23.2 – Proof	UNC (PCGS PR62 Red and Brown)	USD 252.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Weekly Online Auction 232107 Lot 63537	17 Feb 2021	1963 – KM# 23.2 – Proof	UNC (PCGS PR64 Red and Brown)	USD 228.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Weekly Online Auction 232018 Lot 65418	29 Apr 2020	1963 – KM# 23.2 – Proof	UNC (PCGS PR63 Brown)	USD 252.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Weekly Online Auction 232018 Lot 65417	29 Apr 2020	1963 – KM# 23.2 – Proof	UNC (PCGS PR64 Red and Brown)	USD 360.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions 2020 January 21 NYINC World & Ancient Coins Signature Online Auction 3082 Lot 34590	21 Jan 2020	1963 – KM# 23.2 – Proof	UNC (PCGS PR64 Brown)	USD 288.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions