½ Penny - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; with 'BRITT:OMN'

Features

Issuer	United Kingdom
Queen	Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
Type	Standard circulation coins
Year	1953
Value	½ Penny (1⁄480)
Currency	Pound sterling (1158-1971)
Composition	Bronze
Weight	5.67 g
Diameter	25.4 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized	1 August 1969
Number	N# 668
References	KM# 882 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes). , Sp# 4155 Standard Catalogue of British Coins (37 volumes).

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Obverse

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

Script: Latin

Lettering:
+ELIZABETH II DEI GRA:BRITT:OMN:REGINA F:D
M·G·

Unabridged legend: Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Britanniarum Omnium Regina Fidei Defensatrix

Translation: Elizabeth II by the Grace of God Queen of all the Britons Defender of the Faith

Engraver: Mary Gillick

Reverse

Three-masted ship sailing left, denomination above, date below.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
HALF PENNY
HP
1953

Engraver: Thomas Humphrey Paget

Edge

Plain

Mint

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

Comments

House of Windsor (1917 to date), Elizabeth II (1952-2022), Pre-decimal issues (1953-70).

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.

Obverse die varieties:

Image above is reproduced with kind permission of Declan Magee and Numista member Sjoelund.

A special mint set was released comprising 2s. 6d. to 1/4d. ordinary business strikes in transparent envelopes (1,288,000 issued).

Also, a special proof set was released comprising 5s. to 1/4d. struck from polished dies and sold in special cases (40,000 issued).

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Date	Mintage	G	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC		Frequency
Undetermined
1953	2								Matte Proof	0.8%
1953			$ 0.34	$ 0.34	$ 0.78	$ 1.90	$ 1.90	$ 2.70	Obverse 1 - Cross between beads; see comments	28%
1953	8 926 000	$ 0.16	$ 0.16	$ 0.22	$ 0.81	$ 1.30	$ 1.30	$ 1.30	Obverse 2 - Cross at bead; see comments	76%
1953	40 000							$ 14	Proof	4%

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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Numista Rarity index: 7 Search tips

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; with 'BRITT:OMN')

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Past sales

Pictures	Sale	Date	Version	Grade	Sold price
	Heritage Auctions Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232251 Lot 64573	15 Dec 2022	Undetermined	UNC (NGC PR65 Brown)	USD 99.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232251 Lot 64572	15 Dec 2022	Undetermined	UNC (PCGS PR65 Red and Brown)	USD 69.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232130 Lot 65499	28 Jul 2021	Undetermined	UNC (PCGS PR65 Red and Brown)	USD 51.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232126 Lot 61517	30 Jun 2021	Undetermined	UNC (PCGS PR65 Red and Brown)	USD 47.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232125 Lot 64511	23 Jun 2021	Undetermined	UNC (PCGS PR64 Red and Brown)	USD 31.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232124 Lot 63513	16 Jun 2021	Undetermined	UNC (NGC PR66 Red)	USD 51.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Weekly Online Auction 232118 Lot 61457	5 May 2021	Undetermined	UNC (NGC PR66 Red Cameo)	USD 63.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Weekly Online Auction 232112 Lot 64460	24 Mar 2021	Undetermined	UNC (PCGS PR66 Red and Brown)	USD 288.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions