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Last updated 4 May 2026 · Written by Connor Jones, Editor

Halfpenny Values UK: Complete 1672–1969 Price Guide

Q: How do I authenticate an old halfpenny?

Three checks: (1) Weight should be 5.67 g ± 0.10 g for bronze; pre-1860 copper is also 5.67 g but the planchet is thinner. (2) Diameter: 25.4 mm for bronze, 28 mm for pre-1860 copper. (3) Magnet test: copper and bronze are non-magnetic, so any pull from a strong magnet means the coin is plated steel. For high-value rarities (1839 proof, scarce Victorian dates), professional grading by PCGS or NGC is essential. Counterfeit halfpennies are uncommon because the denomination has never carried high market value; modern fakes mostly target the more famous penny rarities.

The pre-decimal halfpenny had the longest continuous run of any modern British coin: 297 years from the milled coinage of Charles II in 1672 to withdrawal on 31 July 1969. Its design carried Britannia from 1672 until 1936 and Drake\'s ship the Golden Hind from 1937 to 1969. Most are common but mint-state red Victorian and Edwardian pieces, the 1839 proof, and certain 1860 transitional varieties carry meaningful premium.

Last updated: 4 May 2026

In brief. Pre-decimal halfpennies were copper to 1860, bronze from 1860 to 1969. Britannia reverse 1672-1936; Drake\'s ship 1937-1969. Most common dates worth pence in worn condition; mint-state red examples and key Victorian dates worth £15-500. The 1839 proof is the famous rarity. Demonetised 31 July 1969, eighteen months before Decimal Day.

Background

The halfpenny began as a hand-cut half of a silver penny in the 13th century and was first struck as its own milled coin under Charles II in 1672. The denomination ran continuously from then until 1969. From 1672 to 1860 it was struck in pure copper; from 1860 to 1969 in bronze (95% copper, 4% tin, 1% zinc). The transition to bronze halved the diameter from 28 mm to 25.4 mm while keeping the same weight, producing a thicker, more durable coin.

The halfpenny was never a high-value coin (it bought half a loaf of bread in late Victorian London), and survival rates are excellent. Inherited boxes of old British coins typically include dozens of halfpennies from the 1860s onwards. Most are common; the value lies in the small number of low-mintage years, the early Victorian proofs, and any example surviving in original mint-state red colour.

Copper halfpennies 1672–1860

Pre-1860 halfpennies were struck in pure copper. The series spans Charles II (1672-1675), James II (1685-1687), William and Mary (1689-1694), William III (1695-1701), Anne (1714 only), George I (1717-1724), George II (1729-1754), George III (1770-1775, 1799 "cartwheel" issue, 1806-1807), George IV (1825-1827), William IV (1831-1837) and Victoria Young Head (1838-1860).

Reign	Years	Notes	VF realised range
Charles II	1672-1675	First milled halfpenny; tin-issue 1685	£30 — £200
William and Mary	1689-1694	Joint monarchs reverse	£25 — £180
Queen Anne	1714 only	Pattern only; very rare	£500 — £3,000
George I	1717-1724	"Dump" and "regular" varieties	£20 — £120
George II	1729-1754	Young and old head	£10 — £80
George III "cartwheel"	1799	Boulton-Watt steam-pressed; striking design	£15 — £100
George IV	1825-1827	Laureate head	£15 — £80
William IV	1831-1837	Short reign; scarce in higher grades	£15 — £100
Victoria Young Head copper	1838-1860	Final copper era	£5 — £40

The 1839 proof halfpenny

The 1839 halfpenny was struck in proof only, as part of a special set issued for the new Victorian coinage. No business strikes were issued. Mintage estimates suggest fewer than 2,000 proofs were struck and survival is much lower. The 1839 proof is one of the famous early Victorian rarities and trades at £800-3,000 in collectable proof grades, £3,000-8,000 in top FDC condition.

The 1860 transitional issue

1860 was the year of transition from copper to bronze. The Royal Mint ran out of usable copper halfpenny dies partway through the year and switched to bronze blanks; the result is a small number of "mule" coins where the obverse and reverse are mismatched between the two design types. The recognised 1860 varieties are:

1860 copper. Final pure copper halfpenny strikes. Trades at £15-80.
1860 bronze, beaded border. First bronze halfpenny type. Common.
1860 bronze, toothed border. Replaced beaded later in the year. Common.
1860 mule (toothed obverse / beaded reverse). Scarce die-pairing error. Trades at £200-800.

Bronze Victorian halfpennies 1860–1901

Date	Mintage	Notes	VF realised
1860	included with 1860	Beaded / toothed varieties	£5 — £30
1869	3,225,600	Lower-mintage Victorian	£25 — £100
1871	2,150,400	Lowest-mintage Young Head bronze	£40 — £180
1881-H	included with 1881 total	Heaton Mint variety	£15 — £60
1887	3,675,000	Jubilee Head first year	£10 — £30
1895	3,062,400	Old Head first year	£10 — £35
1901	13,180,800	Final Victorian halfpenny	£3 — £15

Edward VII halfpennies 1902–1910

Edwardian halfpennies are common dates, mostly trading at £3-15 in collectable grades. The 1902 "low-tide" variety, where Britannia\'s feet appear lower in the water than the standard issue, is a sub-variety of the 1902 halfpenny that commands a small premium when correctly identified.

George V halfpennies 1911–1936

The 1925 modified-effigy variety (a slight redesign of the king\'s portrait introduced partway through 1925) is a key year. The 1923 has a low mintage and is the scarcest pre-1925 George V halfpenny. From 1928 onwards halfpenny mintages were huge, often over 50 million per year, and common-date George V halfpennies are pence coins.

Date	Mintage	Notes	VF realised
1911	12,570,000	First year George V	£3 — £12
1923	21,124,800	Low for type, scarce in mint state	£6 — £25
1925 modified effigy	included in 1925	Modified effigy variety	£5 — £20
1936	23,008,800	Final George V	£2 — £8

George VI and Elizabeth II: the Drake\'s Ship reverse

From 1937, the halfpenny adopted a new reverse design by Thomas Humphrey Paget, showing Sir Francis Drake\'s ship the Golden Hind under sail with the date below. The Drake ship is one of the most attractive small-coin designs of the 20th century. The reverse continued through both George VI (1937-1952) and Elizabeth II (1953-1969). The 1953 first-year Elizabethan issue is the most-collected single date.

Date	Notes	VF realised
1937	First year Drake ship reverse	£1 — £5
1944-1945	Wartime issues, lower-grade strike quality	£1 — £5
1952	Final George VI	£2 — £8
1953	First year Elizabeth II; coronation issue	£3 — £15
1967	Last year of struck pre-decimal halfpenny	£1 — £3
1969	Demonetisation year (proof set only)	£5 — £20

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Token - Halfpenny Lothian

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Token - Halfpenny Maidstone, Kent

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Browse every halfpenny in our database →

Grading bronze halfpennies

Bronze grades carefully because the colour shifts in three stages: original mint red (RD), red-brown (RB) and brown (BN). A coin certified MS-65 RD by PCGS or NGC is far more valuable than the same coin in MS-65 BN. Avoid any temptation to clean: harsh cleaning destroys the patina permanently and drops the coin to "details" grade in any third-party slab. Read our how to grade a coin guide for the full Sheldon scale and the UK Fine/VF/EF/UNC/FDC equivalents.

Pre-decimal coins UK: complete guide
Farthing values UK — the smaller bronze sister
Threepence values UK
1933 Penny value — the famous bronze rarity
Where to sell rare coins UK
How to grade a coin
Coin collecting glossary

External references

The Royal Mint
British Numismatic Society — pre-decimal authority site.
Spink Standard Catalogue of British Coins
Baldwin\'s of St James\'s
Noonans Mayfair
eBay UK halfpenny category

Buying halfpennies on eBay

The links below open eBay UK searches; if you buy through them, MyCoinage earns a small commission at no cost to you.

Most pre-decimal halfpennies trade for £1-3 in collectable grade. The serious money sits in the 1860 Bun head varieties (toothed vs beaded border), the 1933 sub-rarity, and the Victorian Conder-style commercial halfpenny tokens of 1787-1797. The links below pre-filter eBay UK to the dates and varieties most worth chasing.

Victoria Bun head halfpenny ↗ 1860 toothed/beaded varieties (sold) ↗ George III halfpenny ↗ Conder token halfpennies (sold) ↗ George VI halfpenny ↗ Elizabeth II halfpenny ↗ Slabbed halfpenny (sold) ↗ Halfpenny date-run lots ↗

Frequently asked questions

What is a pre-decimal halfpenny worth?

A common-date pre-decimal halfpenny in worn condition is worth pence to a few pounds. In mint state with original red colour, common bronze halfpennies trade at £15-50; key Victorian dates and high-grade Edwardian and George V pieces fetch £80-500. The 1860 transitional issue, certain 1870s low-mintage Victorian dates and the elusive 1953 Elizabeth II varieties (mismatched dies) command meaningful premiums. Most "old halfpennies" found in change boxes are common late-George VI or Elizabeth II issues worth pence in worn grade.

What is the rarest halfpenny?

The 1839 proof halfpenny is one of the rarest types, with only a small number struck for proof sets and pattern purposes; examples have realised £3,000-8,000 in top grade. The 1860 toothed-border / beaded-border transitional varieties (one obverse paired with the wrong reverse) are scarce. Pre-1672 hammered halfpennies are entirely separate and trade in a different reference catalogue. Among modern circulation issues, low-mintage years such as 1923 George V and 1924 trade strongest in mint-state red.

When was the halfpenny demonetised?

The pre-decimal halfpenny was demonetised on 31 July 1969, eighteen months before Decimal Day. The Bank of England decided to withdraw the old halfpenny early to make room for the new decimal halfpenny (introduced 15 February 1971), which was a different size and design. The decimal halfpenny itself was withdrawn on 31 December 1984, having become uneconomic to produce as inflation eroded its purchasing power. So between July 1969 and February 1971, Britain had no half-pence coin in circulation at all.

What is the difference between Victorian copper and bronze halfpennies?

Until 1860 the halfpenny was struck in pure copper, with a thick, heavy planchet (5.67 g, 28 mm). From 1860 onwards the denomination moved to bronze (95% copper, 4% tin, 1% zinc) and the planchet shrank significantly (5.67 g but 25.4 mm diameter, thicker). The change improved durability and aligned the British bronze coinage with continental European standards. Pre-1860 Victorian copper halfpennies are larger and heavier than post-1860 bronze. Both were continuous in design, but the 1860 transitional year has multiple varieties because the Mint was using up old copper dies on bronze blanks.

How do I tell a halfpenny from a penny or farthing?

By size and weight. A bronze halfpenny is 25.4 mm diameter and 5.67 g; a bronze penny is 30.8 mm and 9.45 g; a bronze farthing is 20.2 mm and 2.83 g. The halfpenny sits squarely between the two and is easy to distinguish at a glance. All three carry the same Britannia reverse from 1860 onwards (with size and detail variations) and the reigning monarch on the obverse, so the surest test is to measure or weigh the coin. The denomination is not actually written on most halfpennies; identification is by size.

What does the reverse of a halfpenny show?

From 1672 to 1936 the halfpenny carried a Britannia reverse, the seated female figure with a shield and trident representing Britain. From 1937 to 1969 George VI and Elizabeth II used a Sir Francis Drake's ship the Golden Hind under sail, designed by Thomas Humphrey Paget. The Drake ship reverse is one of the most attractive small-denomination British coin designs of the 20th century. The denomination was always written as "HALFPENNY" or "HALF PENNY" on the reverse legend.

What is a 1953 halfpenny worth?

The 1953 Elizabeth II Coronation halfpenny is the first-year issue of the new reign and is the most-collected post-war halfpenny. Common circulation strikes trade at £1-5 in worn condition and £10-30 in mint-state red. The 1953 was issued in coronation proof sets (cased blue boxes) which trade for £30-60 today. A small number of 1953 halfpennies were struck with an obverse die intended for plastic-set "specimen" coins; these "specimen" varieties trade at higher premium when correctly identified.

Are old halfpennies worth their copper?

No, not meaningfully. A bronze halfpenny contains roughly 5.4 g of copper. At a copper price of £7/kg, the metal value is roughly 4p, well below face value and not worth the effort to extract. Pre-1860 pure copper halfpennies contain about 5.67 g of copper, slightly more, but still pence in melt. The numismatic value of any collectable halfpenny is far higher than its metal content; copper halfpennies are not "junk metal" in the way pre-1947 silver shillings are.

How do I store and handle bronze halfpennies?

Bronze and copper coins are sensitive to skin oils and humidity. Hold by the edges only; never touch the surfaces. Store in PVC-free coin holders (Mylar flips or cardboard 2x2s with acetate windows; PVC sleeves leech green plasticiser onto bronze and ruin the patina). Keep at low humidity (<50%) to slow further oxidation. The dark chocolate or red-brown patina on a Victorian or Edwardian halfpenny is a desirable surface; do not attempt to clean or polish it. Original-red mint-state bronze coins are the most valuable; any rubbing destroys the colour.

How do I authenticate an old halfpenny?

Three checks: (1) Weight should be 5.67 g ± 0.10 g for bronze; pre-1860 copper is also 5.67 g but the planchet is thinner. (2) Diameter: 25.4 mm for bronze, 28 mm for pre-1860 copper. (3) Magnet test: copper and bronze are non-magnetic, so any pull from a strong magnet means the coin is plated steel. For high-value rarities (1839 proof, scarce Victorian dates), professional grading by PCGS or NGC is essential. Counterfeit halfpennies are uncommon because the denomination has never carried high market value; modern fakes mostly target the more famous penny rarities.

Where should I sell rare halfpennies?

For mint-state red Victorian and Edwardian pieces, consign to Baldwin's, Spink or Noonans. For graded slabs (PCGS or NGC) at high MS grades, Heritage Auctions in the US has the broadest international buyer base. For common dates and worn material, eBay UK and local coin fairs work well. Avoid sending common bronze halfpennies to a major auction; the lot fee will exceed any realistic hammer.

How long was the halfpenny issued?

The English halfpenny has the longest continuous history of any modern British coin. The denomination originated in the 13th century as a hand-cut half of a silver penny, became its own struck coin in the 17th century, and ran continuously from the milled coinage of Charles II in 1672 until withdrawal in 1969. The pre-1672 hammered silver halfpenny is a separate object and trades in a different reference catalogue. From 1672 to 1969 is 297 years, longer than any other British coin denomination including the penny.

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Reviewed by Connor Jones, Editor. Every MyCoinage guide is fact-checked against realised auction sales before publication.