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

Features

Issuer	United Kingdom
Queen	Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
Type	Standard circulation coins
Years	1954-1970
Value	½ Penny (1⁄480)
Currency	Pound sterling (1158-1971)
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 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes). , Sp# 4158 Standard Catalogue of British Coins (37 volumes).

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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 II 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

Mints

	Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom (1810-1975)
	Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom (1968-date)

Comments

In 1968 approximately 40 million coins 1967 half pennies were minted at Llantrisant as part of the move from Tower Hill to South Wales. (Royal Mint Annual Report 1968 Volume No.99 Image 36 - The Royal Mint Museum)

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 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:
Reverse A - L of HALF at a bead, smaller teeth
Reverse B - L of HALF between beads, longer teeth

In 1956 there were four obverse/reverse varieties:
Obverse 3 / Reverse C - D of DEI between beads, I of DEI nearly at a bead, L of HALF between beads
Obverse 3 / Reverse D - D of DEI between beads, I of DEI nearly at a bead, L of HALF at a bead
Obverse 4 / Reverse C - D of DEI at a bead, I of DEI between beads, L of HALF between beads
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:
Calm Sea
Normal (rough) Sea

In 1958 there were three reverse varieties:
Reverse E - 18.75 mm from mainmast to base of sea
Reverse F - 19.00 mm from mainmast to base of sea
Reverse G - 19.00 mm from mainmast to base of sea, shorter border teeth
In 1967 & on the 1970 Proof there were two rim varieties:
Obverse 3 - Normal (narrow) rim, I of GRATIA directly at a tooth
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 the half-crown to halfpenny and were produced over the course of several years with the following mintages:
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	$ 0.14	$ 0.14	$ 0.14	$ 0.58	$ 0.92	$ 0.94	$ 6.40	Rev A	16%
1954			$ 0.15	$ 0.27	$ 1.10	$ 1.10			Rev B	3%
1955	18 465 600	$ 0.08	$ 0.38	$ 0.38	$ 0.46	$ 0.50	$ 0.69	$ 3.60		17%
1956	21 799 200	$ 0.16	$ 0.16	$ 0.52	$ 0.59	$ 0.59	$ 0.59	$ 29	Obverse 3 / Rev C	17%
1956					$ 3.10				Obverse 3 / Rev D	0.6%
1956									Obverse 4 / Rev C	0.02%
1956					$ 0.62				Obverse 4 / Rev D	0.4%
1957		$ 0.12	$ 0.34	$ 0.50	$ 0.58	$ 1.60	$ 3.40	$ 28	Calm Sea	5%
1957	39 672 000	$ 0.12	$ 0.14	$ 0.20	$ 0.35	$ 0.92	$ 1.10	$ 3.20	Normal Sea	21%
1958	66 331 200	$ 0.08	$ 0.13	$ 0.21	$ 0.40	$ 0.51	$ 0.60	$ 0.81	Rev E	27%
1958					$ 0.10	$ 0.38	$ 0.75	$ 2.80	Rev F	1.8%
1958					$ 0.43				Rev G	0.7%
1959	79 176 000	$ 0.12	$ 0.12	$ 0.13	$ 0.35	$ 0.58	$ 0.71	$ 1.30		32%
1960	41 340 000	$ 0.09	$ 0.13	$ 0.16	$ 0.34	$ 0.58	$ 0.64	$ 1.40		24%
1962	41 779 200	$ 0.09	$ 0.13	$ 0.29	$ 0.35	$ 0.68	$ 0.76	$ 0.97		23%
1963	42 720 000	$ 0.14	$ 0.31	$ 0.34	$ 0.46	$ 0.61	$ 0.61	$ 1.10		25%
1964	78 583 200	$ 0.12	$ 0.14	$ 0.27	$ 0.28	$ 0.41	$ 0.41	$ 1.20		32%
1965	98 083 200	$ 0.14	$ 0.21	$ 0.22	$ 0.29	$ 0.31	$ 0.32	$ 1.00		34%
1966	95 289 600	$ 0.14	$ 0.23	$ 0.28	$ 0.29	$ 0.52	$ 0.52	$ 0.99		34%
1967	146 490 400	$ 0.16	$ 0.16	$ 0.29	$ 0.39	$ 0.50	$ 0.58	$ 0.83	Obverse 3 - Normal rim	44%
1967			$ 0.20	$ 0.20	$ 0.20	$ 0.25	$ 0.84	$ 0.94	Obverse 4 - Wide rim	5%
1970									Proof; Obverse 3 - Normal rim	0.06%
1970	750 400						$ 2.80	$ 3.20	Proof; Obverse 4 - Wide rim	6%

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.

Examples of the type

Picture 1 of the example of ½ Penny - Elizabeth II (1st portrait; without 'BRITT:OMN')

Picture 2 of the example of ½ Penny - Elizabeth II (1st portrait; without 'BRITT:OMN')

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Past sales

Pictures	Sale	Date	Version	Grade	Sold price
	Heritage Auctions 2024 December 16 - 17 Spotlight: Great Britain World Coins Showcase Auction 61417 Lot 24583	16 Dec 2024	1956 – Obverse 3 / Rev C	UNC (NGC PR66 Red)	USD 1560.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232343 Lot 64265	19 Oct 2023	1964	UNC (NGC MS65 Brown)	USD 85.00 (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
	Heritage Auctions Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232252 Lot 65677	22 Dec 2022	Undetermined	UNC (NGC MS65 Red and Brown)	USD 900.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions