Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 1/2 New Penny 1971-1981, KM# 914, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II
  • 1/2 New Penny 1971-1981, KM# 914, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Elizabeth II
Description

There were two types of decimal Half Penny struck, they were basically the same except for differing reverse inscriptions. The first inscription reads NEW PENNY and was struck from 1971 to 1981. The second inscription reads HALF PENNY and was struck from 1982 to 1984.

The decimal Half Penny did not have a long life it was first struck from 1971 and was used until it was demonetised in 1984. The Half Penny was removed from circulation because of its very low value made it almost pointless and its tiny size was also very unpopular with the public.

Obverse

Second crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara.

The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara was a wedding present in 1947 from her grandmother, Queen Mary, who received it as a gift from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland in 1893 on the occasion of her marriage to the Duke of York, later George V. Made by E. Wolfe & Co., it was purchased from Garrard & Co. by a committee organised by Lady Eve Greville. In 1914, Mary adapted the tiara to take 13 diamonds in place of the large oriental pearls surmounting the tiara. At first, Elizabeth wore the tiara without its base and pearls but the base was reattached in 1969. The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara is one of Elizabeth's most recognisable pieces of jewellery due to its widespread use on British banknotes and coinage.

ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FIDEI DEFENSATRIX means Elizabeth II, by the grace of God, Queen and Defender of the Faith.

Engraver: Arnold Machin

D·G·REG·F·D·1976 ELIZABETH·II

Reverse

St Edward's Crown is one of the oldest Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom and the centrepiece of the coronation regalia. Named after Edward the Confessor, it has traditionally been used to crown English and British monarchs at their coronation ceremonies. The current version was made for the coronation of Charles II in 1661.

Engraver: Christopher Ironside

NEW PENNY
½

Edge

1/2 New Penny

2nd portrait
KM# 914 Sp# A1
Characteristics
Material Bronze
Weight 1.78 g
Diameter 17.14 mm
Thickness 1.07 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

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