½ Penny - Elizabeth II 1st portrait

Features

Issuer	South Africa
Queen	Elizabeth II (1952-1961)
Type	Standard circulation coins
Years	1953-1960
Value	½ Penny (1⁄480)
Currency	Pound (1825-1961)
Composition	Bronze (95% Cu, 4.5% Zn, 0.5% Sn)
Weight	5.67 g
Diameter	25.6 mm
Thickness	1.76 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized	31 March 1961
Number	N# 9968
References	KM# 45 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes). , Hern# S74-81 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa. , Schön# 55 Battenberg Gietl Verlag (publisher). Weltmünzkatalog. Battenberg Gietl Verlag, Regenstauf, Bavaria, Germany (4 volumes).

See 50 swap offers

View sale offers

Obverse

Young laureate portrait of Queen Elizabeth II right, engraver's initials in truncation, legend around.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
ELIZABETH II REGINA
M.G.

Translation: Queen Elizabeth II

Engraver: Mary Gillick

Reverse

A ship, 'Dromedaris', sailing to right, legend in English and Afrikaans either side, with date above and denomination below, engraver's initials in front of ship.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
SOUTH AFRICA·1960·SUID-AFRIKA
KG
1/2D

Engraver: George Kruger Gray

Edge

Plain

Mint

Pretoria, South Africa (1890-1902, 1923-1992)

Comments

The Dromedaris is one of the three ships which brought Jan van Riebeeck and his small group of settlers to South Africa from Holland in 1652 in order to establish a refreshment station on behalf of the Dutch East India Company.

Manage my collection

Please sign in or create an account to manage your collection.

Date	Mintage	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC	References		Frequency
Undetermined
1953	5 572 463		$ 0.68	$ 0.70	$ 1.10	$ 1.60	$ 4.60	Hern# S74 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.		31%
1953	5 000						$ 2.90	Hern# S74 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.	Proof	1.3%
1954	100 897							Hern# S75 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.		4%
1954	3 150							Hern# S75 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.	Proof	0.8%
1955	3 774 249		$ 0.27	$ 0.58	$ 1.10	$ 1.10	$ 2.70	Hern# S76 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.		29%
1955	2 850							Hern# S76 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.	Proof	1.1%
1956	1 304 574		$ 0.27	$ 0.99	$ 0.99	$ 3.60	$ 12	Hern# S77 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.		12%
1956	1 700							Hern# S77 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.	Proof	0.6%
1957	2 025 085		$ 0.27	$ 0.71	$ 1.10	$ 1.10	$ 4.90	Hern# S78 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.		20%
1957	1 130							Hern# S78 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.	Proof	0.3%
1958	2 170 585		$ 0.23	$ 0.66	$ 1.10			Hern# S79 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.		14%
1958	985							Hern# S79 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.	Proof	0.3%
1959	2 396 818			$ 0.21	$ 1.10	$ 1.30	$ 2.50	Hern# S80 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.		21%
1959	950							Hern# S80 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.	Proof	0.2%
1960	2 551 794	$ 0.22	$ 0.22	$ 1.20	$ 1.20	$ 1.70	$ 2.60	Hern# S81 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.		34%
1960	3 360							Hern# S81 Brian Hern, Peter Wilson (ed.), Henk Loots (ed.); 2017. Hern's Handbook on South African Coins and Patterns 2017/18 (9^th Edition). Gary Levitan, Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa.	Proof	1.1%

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%.

Get this coin

Members from this site want to exchange it: volvonecklace, bburke057, Canterbury17, Essor Prof, chuxway, borzacsko, BSmith, goolam, cyprusalexander, Carlos Cerrato, zdravko, lincolnmanand, Sisilija, JoachimSdl, sangriablanca, Jesse11, alligloppy, skeletonwizard8, hughes1920, Henry2407, eRBe56, crimea62, Le major, benjammoins, akadotour, NumCoinColl, erniemix, darinrase, kalti celtic odor, RichW, NowWhyHow, yahel, mossie001, Herman99, MrSir, edgarmx1, mowc, Croft89coffey, J-J.Doubrovski, mickfinn, Robert T, bertie, gyoschak, wernerg117, rmuniak, jcs121368, fredo52, MartinG, scrapsmith75, Stas…

» See the details of the coins available for swap

Numista Rarity index: 8 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.

Past sales

Pictures	Sale	Date	Version	Grade	Sold price
	Katz Auction 194 Lot 1350	15 May 2026	1953 – Hern# S74	UNC	USD 31.34 (EUR 27.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Katz Auction 80 Lot 1035	5 Apr 2023	1956 – Hern# S77	UNC	USD 53.39 (EUR 46.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Katz Coins Notes & Supplies Corp.
	Heritage Auctions A Special Selection of World Coins Monthly Internet Auction 271912 Lot 36805	24 Mar 2019	1956 – Hern# S77	UNC (NGC MS65 Red)	USD 156.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions 2020 November 5 - 6 World & Ancient Coins Platinum and Signature Online Auction - Dallas 3088 Lot 35125	5 Nov 2020	1959 – Hern# S80 – Proof	UNC	The lot includes several items.
© Heritage Auctions
	Heritage Auctions A Special Selection of World Coins Monthly Internet Auction 271912 Lot 36806	24 Mar 2019	1960 – Hern# S81	UNC (NGC MS66 Red and Brown)	USD 57.00 (incl. buyer's premium)
© Heritage Auctions