Half Crown (British Coin) - History of The Half Crown By Reign

History of The Half Crown By Reign

• Henry VIII of England 1526: the first English half crown was struck in gold.
• Edward VI of England 1551: issued the first half crown in silver. The coin was dated and showed the king riding a horse.
• Mary of England: the half crown was struck on Mary's marriage to Philip II of Spain in 1554 but was never issued for circulation. Three specimens exist.
• Elizabeth I of England: gold half crowns were issued again. At the end of the reign silver half crowns were issued.
• James I of England: gold half crowns were issued again. During the reign silver half crowns were issued.
• Charles I of England: silver half crowns were issued, including those struck as obsidional money, money of necessity during the Civil War period.
• Commonwealth of England: Oliver Cromwell silver half crowns were issued. During the years 1656 and 1658 milled half crowns were issued of Oliver Cromwell.
• Charles II of England 1663–1685: silver half crowns were issued, and this period saw the end of the hammered issue of half crowns.
• James II of England 1685–1688: silver half crown.
• William & Mary of England 1689–1694: silver half crown.
• William III of England 1694–1702: silver half crown.
• Anne of Great Britain 1702–1714: silver half crown.
• George I of Great Britain 1714–1727: silver half crown.
• George II of Great Britain 1727–1760: silver half crown.
• George III of Great Britain 1760–1820: silver half crown.
• George IV of the United Kingdom 1820–1830: silver half crown.
• William IV of the United Kingdom 1830–1837: silver half crown.
• Victoria of the United Kingdom 1837–1901: silver half crown.
• Edward VII of the United Kingdom 1902–1910: silver half crown.
• George V of the United Kingdom 1910–1936: silver half crown, sterling silver (92½% silver) until 1919, then 50% silver.
• Edward VIII of the United Kingdom 1936: 50% silver half crown. Not issued for circulation.
• George VI of the United Kingdom 1937–1952: 50% silver half crowns were issued until 1946 when the metal was changed to cupro-nickel.
• Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 1952–1970: the last half crown was issued in 1970 shortly before decimalisation.