United Kingdom | |
| Value | +1/2dsterling |
|---|---|
| Mass | (1860–1967) 5.67 g |
| Diameter | (1860–1967) 25.48 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Composition | (1672–1860) Copper (1860–1967) Bronze |
| Years of minting | 1672–1967 |
| Obverse | |
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| Design | Profile of the monarch (Elizabeth II design shown) |
| Designer | Mary Gillick |
| Design date | 1953 |
| Reverse | |
 | |
| Design | Golden Hind (Britannia on earlier mintages) |
| Designer | Thomas Humphrey Paget |
| Design date | 1937 |
TheBritishpre-decimalhalfpenny (pronounced/ˈheɪpəni/), once abbreviatedob. (from the Latin 'obulus'),[1] is a discontinued denomination ofsterling coinage worth1/480 of onepound,1/24 of oneshilling, or1/2 of onepenny. Originally the halfpenny was minted in copper, but after 1860 it was minted in bronze. In the run-up todecimalisation, it ceased to be legal tender from 31 July 1969 (although halfpennies dated 1970 were minted as part of a final pre-decimal commemorative set).[2] The halfpenny featured two different designs on its reverse during its years in circulation. From 1672 until 1936 the image ofBritannia appeared on the reverse, and from 1937 onwards the image of theGolden Hind appeared.[3] Like all British coinage, it bore the portrait of the monarch on the obverse.[4]
"Halfpenny" was colloquially writtenha'penny, and "1+1/2d" was spoken as "a penny ha'penny"/əˈpɛniˈheɪpni/ orthree ha'pence/θriːˈheɪpəns/.[5] "Halfpenny" is a rare example of a word in theEnglish language that has asilent 'f'.
BeforeDecimal Day in 1971, sterling used theCarolingian monetary system, under which the largest unit was apound divided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence. Each penny was further divided into 4 farthings, thus a pound contained 480 halfpennies and a shilling contained 24 halfpennies.
While the halfpenny is no longer in circulation, it continues to be used by enthusiasts of the traditional Britishpub game,shove ha'penny.
The originalreverse of the bronze version of the coin, designed byLeonard Charles Wyon, is a seatedBritannia, holding a trident, with the wordsHALF PENNY to either sides. Issues before 1895 also feature a lighthouse to Britannia's left and a ship to her right. Various minor adjustments to the level of the sea depicted around Britannia, and the angle of her trident were also made over the years. Some issues feature toothed edges, while others feature beading.
Over the years, various different obverses were used. Edward VII, George V, George VI and Elizabeth II each had a single obverse for halfpennies produced during their respective reigns. Over the long reign of Queen Victoria two different obverses were used, but the short reign of Edward VIII meant no halfpennies bearing his likeness were ever issued.
During Victoria's reign, the halfpenny was first issued with the so-called 'bun head', or 'draped bust' of Queen Victoria on the obverse. The inscription around the bust readVICTORIA D G BRITT REG F D. This was replaced in 1895 by the 'old head', or 'veiled bust'. The inscription on these coins readVICTORIA DEI GRA BRITT REGINA FID DEF IND IMP.
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Coins issued during the reign ofEdward VII feature his likeness and bear the inscriptionEDWARDVS VII DEI GRA BRITT OMN REX FID DEF IND IMP. Similarly, those issued during the reign ofGeorge V feature his likeness and bear the inscriptionGEORGIVS V DEI GRA BRITT OMN REX FID DEF IND IMP.
A halfpenny of KingEdward VIII (1936) does exist, dated 1937, but technically it is apattern coin i.e. one produced for official approval; it would probably have been due to receive this approval at about the time that the King abdicated. The obverse shows a left-facing portrait of the king (who considered this to be his better side, and consequently broke the tradition of alternating the direction in which the monarch faces on coins – some viewed this as indicating bad luck for the reign); the inscription on the obverse isEDWARDVS VIII D G BR OMN REX F D IND IMP.
The pattern coin of Edward VIII and regular issue halfpennies ofGeorge VI andElizabeth II feature a redesigned reverse displayingSir Francis Drake's ship theGolden Hind.
George VI issue coins feature the inscriptionGEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN REX F D IND IMP before 1949, andGEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN REX FIDEI DEF thereafter. Unlike the penny, halfpennies were minted throughout the early reign of Elizabeth II, bearing the inscriptionELIZABETH II DEI GRA BRITT OMN REGINA F D in 1953, andELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F D thereafter.
| Victoria (Veiled bust) |
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| Edward VII |
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| George V |
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| George VI |
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| Elizabeth II |
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Ha'porth:British English i.e. 'halfpenny-worth' or 'halfpennyworth' pronounced/ˈheɪpəθ/.[6][7]
In literal use usually written out in full[8][9][10] although stillnever pronounced phonetically:[11][12][13] e.g. "A halfpennyworth of chips."[14] Also used in the once common phrase: "daft ha'porth."[8][9][10][15]
In figurative use usually said disparagingly: e.g. "I've been dying for somebody with a ha'porth of wit and intelligence to talk to."[16] "...and saying it doesn't make a halfpennyworth of difference!"[17][18]
(fromAlan Bennett'sA lady of Letters, written and produced in 1987, some sixteen years after decimalisation and three years after the New Halfpenny—(i.e. the decimal1/2p)—had been demonetised and withdrawn from circulation, thus further illustrating the continued traditional or idiomatictwo-syllable pronunciation).
