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Collectors Guide

Elizabeth II Halfcrowns

The Elizabeth II halfcrown (2s 6d) was struck from 1953 to 1967 and forms part of the final generation of pre-decimal British silver coinage. Continuing traditional designs while reflecting the post-war era, the series includes annual issues with increasing collector interest in higher grades. This page provides a detailed reference to Elizabeth II halfcrowns, including specifications, design features and collecting guidance.

Introduction

The Elizabeth II Halfcrown was struck from 1953 to 1967 and represents one of the longest-running denominations of the decimal transition era. This page provides an overview of the Elizabeth II Halfcrown series, including obverse and reverse varieties, die pairings for the complex 1962 issue, and year-by-year reference images.


The series was struck throughout in copper-nickel and features the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Mary Gillick on the obverse and a crowned shield of the Royal Arms on the reverse by Cecil Thomas. While the design remained essentially unchanged, collectors will find a range of die varieties — particularly across the 1953 and 1962 issues — that reward close study.

  • 1953 – Two obverses identified, distinguishable by bead alignment, silhouette clarity, and border bead count.
  • 1954–1961 – Annual issues with no major design changes; the 1961 date is additionally known with a polished die and with a blocked die resulting in missing designer initials.
  • 1962 – The most complex year of the series, with two obverses and two reverses producing four recorded die pairings of differing scarcity.
  • 1963–1967 – Later issues with relatively stable dies; high-grade examples tend to be more readily available than for the earlier copper-nickel denominations.

Coinage Details

1953 — The first Elizabeth II Halfcrown was released as part of the Coronation year coinage. Two obverses are recorded, with Obverse 2 considered somewhat scarcer by Davies. Most surviving high-grade examples will be Obverse 1 pieces, preserved from the original plastic presentation sets.


1954–1961 — Annual production continued without major design revision. The 1961 date is notable for two specialist varieties: a polished die (or more accurately, polished flan) issue that is subtle in photographs but immediately apparent in hand, and a scarce blocked die variant on which the designer's initials EF are partially or fully absent due to die fill, with a corresponding weakening of the CT initials.


1962 — The 1962 Halfcrown is the most complex date in the series, with two obverses (3 and 4) and two reverses (C and D) recorded, producing four die combinations. Obverses differ in the position of key letters relative to border beads and in the treatment of the Queen's eyebrow. Reverses differ in bead size, rim thickness, and the positioning of several design elements relative to the border. The common pairings are 3+C and 4+D; the combinations 3+D and 4+C are both scarce.


1963–1967 — The final years of the halfcrown saw continued annual production ahead of decimalisation. The series was withdrawn on Decimal Day in February 1971, having circulated alongside the new coinage for a brief transitional period.

Elizabeth II Halfcrown Issues

1953 1+A 1953 1+A
1953 2+A 1953 2+A
1954 1954
1955 1955
1956 1956
1957 1957
1958 1958
1959 1959
1960 1960
1961 1961
1961 PD 1961 PD
1962 3 + C 1962 3 + C
1962 3 + D 1962 3 + D
1962 4 + C 1962 4 + C
1962 4 + D 1962 4 + D
1963 1963
1964 1964
1965 1965
1966 1966
1967 1967

Specifications

Years Issued 1953–1967
Diameter 32.3 mm
Weight 14.14 g
Edge Reeded
Alloy Copper-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel)
Obverse Designer Mary Gillick
Reverse Designer Cecil Thomas

Year-by-Year Reference

1953

Two obverses identified:

As with the other denominations, it is always worth keeping an eye out for high grade Obverse 2s. There aren't that many left. Most high grade 1953 halfcrowns will be Obverse 1, ex plastic set.


1953 Halfcrown Varieties
1953 Obverse 1 Left
Obverse 1
  • I of DEI between beads
  • 1st A of GRATIA between beads
  • I of LIZ between beads
  • Faint silhouette
  • 123 beads
 1953 Obverse 1 Right
1953 Obverse 2 Left
Obverse 2
  • I of DEI at a bead
  • 1st A of GRATIA at a bead
  • I of LIZ to the right of a bead
  • Clear silhouette
  • 127 beads
 1953 Obverse 2 Right

1954

1954 Halfcrown
Obverse Reverse
1954 Halfcrown Obverse 1954 Halfcrown Reverse

1955

1955 Halfcrown
Obverse Reverse
1955 Halfcrown Obverse 1955 Halfcrown Reverse

1956

1956 Halfcrown
Obverse Reverse
1956 Halfcrown Obverse 1956 Halfcrown Reverse

1957

1957 Halfcrown
Obverse Reverse
1957 Halfcrown Obverse 1957 Halfcrown Reverse

1958

1958 Halfcrown
Obverse Reverse
1958 Halfcrown Obverse 1958 Halfcrown Reverse

1959

1959 Halfcrown
Obverse Reverse
1959 Halfcrown Obverse 1959 Halfcrown Reverse

1960

1960 Halfcrown
Obverse Reverse
1960 Halfcrown Obverse 1960 Halfcrown Reverse

1961

1961 Halfcrown
Obverse Reverse
1961 Halfcrown Obverse 1961 Halfcrown Reverse
1961 Polished Die Left Polished Die

(or, more correctly, Polished Flan)

Never that obvious in photos, however good they are,
but very obvious in the hand 		1961 Polished Die Right
1961 EF Blocked Die

Often catalogued as a variety in its own right, this scarce 1961 type has the designer's initials EF (Edgar Fuller) missing due to a blocked die.

The progression can be seen across the examples — from normal, to partial fill, to almost complete loss of EF and weakening of CT (Cecil Thomas). 		1961 EF Die Fill

1962

Obverses
Obverse 3
  • I of GRATIA between beads
  • Plain eyebrow
  • I of DEI to the left of a bead
1962 Obverse 3 		Obverse 4
  • I of GRATIA at a bead
  • Incuse eyebrow
  • I of DEI between beads
1962 Obverse 4
Reverses
Reverse C
  • D of DEF at a bead
  • Medium rim
  • Left leg of N in CROWN at a bead
  • Gap between beads
  • Small beads
  • Cross after date between beads
  • Rightmost bead on crown partially obscured
  • Left leg of A of HALF between beads
1962 Reverse C 		Reverse D
  • D of DEF between beads
  • Thin rim
  • Left leg of N in CROWN between beads
  • Small gap between beads
  • Larger beads
  • Cross after date at a bead
  • Rightmost bead on crown clear
  • Left leg of A of HALF to the left of a bead
1962 Reverse D
Die Pairings
1962 3+C Left 3+C

Davies 2329

COMMON 		1962 3+C Right
1962 3+D Left 3+D

Davies 2330

SCARCE 		1962 3+D Right
1962 4+C Left 4+C

Davies 2331

SCARCE 		1962 4+C Right
1962 4+D Left 4+D

Davies 2332

COMMON 		1962 4+D Right

1963

1963 Halfcrown
Obverse Reverse
1963 Halfcrown Obverse 1963 Halfcrown Reverse

1964

1964 Halfcrown
Obverse Reverse
1964 Halfcrown Obverse 1964 Halfcrown Reverse

1965

1965 Halfcrown
Obverse Reverse
1965 Halfcrown Obverse 1965 Halfcrown Reverse

1966

1966 Halfcrown
Obverse Reverse
1966 Halfcrown Obverse 1966 Halfcrown Reverse

1967

1967 Halfcrown
Obverse Reverse
1967 Halfcrown Obverse 1967 Halfcrown Reverse

References

Attributions and variety identifications for the George V Halfcrown series are based principally on the standard published references listed below. These works form the core framework for catalogue numbering, die classification, and comparative study.

  • Coins of England and the United Kingdom
  • ESC – English Silver Coinage
  • Bull – English Silver Coinage since 1649
  • Davies – British Silver Coins since 1816
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