½ Crown - George IV 2nd portrait 3rd reverse (1824–1829)

One row for each year the ½ Crown - George IV 2nd portrait – 3rd reverse was struck. Prices are medians of verified sold listings matched to that year from the listing: circulated is worn condition up to Extremely Fine, uncirculated is About Uncirculated or better. A count in brackets means fewer than three sales behind the figure; a grey figure marked "type" is the median across every year, shown where that year has no sale of its own yet. Most types have been searched year by year only since October 2026, so later years are still filling in. Use the grade table below for a price by condition across all years.

About the 1824 Half Crown - George IV – 3rd reverse

The 1824 Half Crown - George IV – 3rd reverse is a circulating ½ crown coin issued from 1824 to 1829, struck in 92.5% silver. It weighs 14.14g and measures 32mm across. Reverse design: © Heritage Auctions.

Mintage figures are recorded for 4 years between 1825 and 1829, 5,005,900 coins in all. 1828 is the scarcest date, with 49,800 struck. It is no longer legal tender (withdrawn 1969), so its value is to collectors only.

Common questions

History and design

George IV disliked the laureate portrait Benedetto Pistrucci had made for his first coins and asked for a likeness based on a bust by the sculptor Francis Chantrey. Pistrucci refused to copy it, and the new bare head on the silver was engraved by William Wyon. The half crown changed both sides at once, and Tony Clayton dates this type from 1824 to 1829, with the 1824 coin very scarce.

Coin Hunter gives 2,258,784 for 1825, 2,189,088 for 1826, 49,890 for 1828 and 508,464 for 1829, about five million in all. No half crowns are listed for 1827, and the 1828 figure is the lowest of the reign.

The obverse shows the King's bare head facing left with GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA and the date below. The Royal Mint Museum notes that Wyon's portraits of George IV were based on Chantrey's busts and so were not entirely his own work.

The reverse is a heraldic achievement rather than a plain shield. A Science Museum Group record of an 1825 coin describes a slightly garnished shield surmounted by a crowned helmet with mantling, quartering England, Scotland and Ireland, with the arms of the Electorate of Hanover on a central escutcheon under the electoral cap, and DIEU ET MON DROIT on a scroll below. BRITANNIARUM REX FID: DEF: runs around it, and the edge is milled.

Varieties and errors

1824 is the rare first date of the type. Proofs dated 1826 exist, and the Royal Mint Museum holds one (RMM 1322).

Collecting notes

The helmet, crown and mantling on the reverse and the curls of the King's hair show wear first. The 1828 coin, with under 50,000 struck, is the date to watch for, followed by 1829. 1825 and 1826 are the common dates.

This type replaced the Garter shield half crown of 1823 and 1824. Half crowns ceased to be legal tender in January 1970.