Collectors Guide
George V Halfcrowns
The George V halfcrown (2s 6d) was issued throughout the reign from 1911 to 1936 and is a cornerstone denomination in British silver coinage. With multiple obverse portraits and several reverse types, the series offers a rich field for collectors, including rare dates and die varieties. This page provides a detailed reference to George V halfcrowns, including specifications, varieties and collecting insights.
Introduction
The George V Halfcrown was struck from 1911 to 1936 and is one of the most important silver denominations of the reign. This page provides an overview of the George V Halfcrown series, including the four main coinages, alloy changes after 1920, portrait modifications, reverse redesigns, and year-by-year reference images.
Four distinct coinages can be identified, reflecting the reduction in silver content in 1920, a later modification to the King’s portrait, and the introduction of a completely new reverse design.
- 1st Coinage (1911–1919) – Struck in sterling silver (.925) and introduced the new reign with the traditional crowned shield reverse.
- 2nd Coinage (1920–1926) – Retained the same design but used the reduced .500 silver alloy introduced after the First World War.
- 3rd Coinage (1926–1927) – Introduced a modified portrait of George V, creating a short transitional issue.
- 4th Coinage (1927–1936) – Introduced a completely new reverse design by George Kruger Gray while continuing the later portrait and .500 silver alloy.
Coinage Details
1st Coinage (1911–1919) — The first coinage was struck in traditional sterling silver (.925) and introduced the effigy of George V by Sir Bertram Mackennal. The reverse retained the crowned shield of the Royal Arms used on the Edward VII halfcrowns. These early pieces represent the final circulating sterling-silver halfcrowns before the debasement of British silver coinage.
2nd Coinage (1920–1926) — In 1920, rising silver prices forced the British government to reduce the precious-metal content of circulating coinage. From this point onward the halfcrown was struck in .500 fine silver, containing equal parts silver and base metal. This change marks the second coinage, which retained the same basic design but used the new alloy.
3rd Coinage (1926–1927) — A further modification followed with the introduction of a revised portrait of George V. This short transitional issue retained the debased silver alloy and the earlier crowned shield reverse while introducing subtle changes to the King’s effigy and legend.
A notable feature of the 1926–1927 coinage is the shortened obverse legend, with the titles FID DEF IND IMP removed from the inscription. This change accompanied the introduction of the modified effigy of George V and marks the transitional phase between the earlier and later designs of the reign.
4th Coinage (1927–1936) — The fourth and final coinage introduced a new reverse designed by George Kruger Gray. The earlier crowned shield was replaced with a more modern arrangement of the quartered Royal Arms, marking one of the most distinctive design changes of the reign. This design continued with the modified portrait and the .500 silver alloy through to the end of the reign.
Overall, the George V halfcrown series reflects the wider economic and artistic changes of the early twentieth century— particularly the impact of rising silver prices after the First World War and the broader move toward modernised coin designs during the later years of the reign.
George V Halfcrowns
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
Specifications
| Years Issued | 1911–1936 |
| Diameter | 32.31 mm |
| Weight | 14.14 g |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Alloy |
1911–1919: 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper 1920–1936: 50% silver, 40% copper, 10% nickel |
| Obverse Designer | Sir Bertram Mackennal |
| Reverse Designers |
1911-1927: George William de Saulles 1927–1936: George Kruger Gray |
Year-by-Year Reference
1911
Bull rates this as 'N (Normal)'.
It is difficult to get a 1911 Halfcrown, particularly in a high grade.
| 1911 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
|
|
1912
Bull rates this as 'S (Scarce)'.
| 1912 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
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1913
Bull rates this as 'R (Rare)'.
| 1913 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
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1914
Bull rates this as 'S (Scarce)'.
It's really important with these, and some other dates in the series, to know the difference between an EF and a higher grade than that. The world is awash with EFs.
| 1914 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
|
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1915
Bull rates this as 'N (Normal)'.
It is best to use high points on the design to judge the quality of these Halfcrowns:
- the spiral on the harp's hip
- the I and S of the garter legend
- and of course, the top of the ear
| 1915 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
|
|
1916
Bull rates this as 'N (Normal)'.
| 1916 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
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1917
Bull rates this as 'N (Normal)'.
| 1917 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
|
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1918
Bull rates this as 'N (Normal)'.
| 1918 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
|
|
1919
Bull rates this as 'S (Scarce)'.
| 1919 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
|
|
1920
Bull rates this as 'S (Scarce)'.
1920 Halfcrowns display a very steep grade gradient. VF specimens are common, EF scarce, and As Struck coins are rare.
Both Davies and Groom reports 5 varieties. There are 3 obverses (Obverse 1, 2 and 3) and 2 Reverses (Reverse A and B)
- ➤ 1920 1+A
- ➤ 1920 1+B
- ➤ 1920 2+A
- ➤ 1920 3+A
- ➤ 1920 3+B
| 1920 Halfcrown Varieties |
|---|
| Obverse 1 | Reverse A |
|
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| Obverse 2 | Reverse B |
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| Obverse 3 | Reverse A |
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1921
Bull rates this as 'S (Scarce)'.
| 1919 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
|
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1922
Bull rates this as 'S (Scarce)'.
1922 Halfcrowns display a very steep grade gradient. VF specimens are common, EF scarce, and As Struck coins are rare.
Both Davies and Groom reports 2 varieties. There is 1 obverse (Obverse 3) and 2 Reverses (Reverse C and D)
- ➤ 1922 3+C
- ➤ 1922 3+D
| 1922 Halfcrown Varieties |
|---|
| Obverse 3 | Reverse C |
|
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| Obverse 3 | Reverse D |
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1923
Bull rates this as 'S (Scarce)'.
This is one of the few instances where I must disagree with Cope and Rayner's condition rarity levels. They list the 1923 Halfcrown as N in VF, R in EF, and R2 in As Struck. I have not found this to be such a difficult coin and would rank it significantly easier than the preceding years.
| 1923 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
|
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1924
Bull rates this as 'S (Scarce)'.
| 1924 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
|
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1925
Bull rates this as 'S (Scarce)'.
This is one of the definitive condition rarities of the series. Low grade examples abound, as it is a well known key date, but top grade coins are close to impossible.
| 1925 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
|
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1926
I have found the Modified Head Halfcrown to be harder to source than the First Head coin, but both types qualify as condition rarities.
- ➤ 1926 First Effigy
- ➤ 1926 Modified Effigy
| 1926 Halfcrown Varieties |
|---|
| Obverse – First Effigy | Reverse |
|
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| Obverse – Modified Effigy | Reverse |
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1927
The 1927 Halfcrown is fairly common in circulation grades, but higher-grade examples are still considered scarce.
| Obverse | Reverse |
|
 |
1928
The 1928 Halfcrown shows multiple obverse varieties. VF examples are common, but higher grades remain scarce.
- ➤ 1928 1+B
- ➤ 1928 1+C
| 1928 Halfcrown Varieties |
|---|
| Obverse 1 | Reverse B |
|
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| Obverse 1 | Reverse C |
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1929
The 1929 Halfcrown has multiple obverse varieties. Lower-grade coins are fairly common, but higher grades are scarce.
- ➤ 1929 1+D
- ➤ 1929 1+E
| 1929 Halfcrown Varieties |
|---|
| Obverse 1 | Reverse D |
|
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| Obverse 2 | Reverse E |
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1930
This is one of the definitive condition rarities of the series. Low grade examples abound, as it is a well-known key date, but top grade coins are close to impossible.
| 1930 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
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1931
The 1931 Halfcrown is relatively scarce and sought after by collectors in higher grades.
| 1931 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
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1932
The 1932 Halfcrown is uncommon in higher grades, but examples in lower grades are occasionally found.
| 1932 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
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1933
The 1933 Halfcrown is one of the rarer issues, especially in higher grades, making it a key date for collectors.
| 1933 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
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1934
The 1934 Halfcrown is moderately common, but high-grade specimens remain scarce and desirable.
| 1934 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
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1935
The 1935 Halfcrown is fairly common in circulation grades, but higher-grade examples remain harder to find.
| 1935 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
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1936
The 1936 Halfcrown is uncommon in all grades, making it a notable addition for collectors completing the series.
| 1936 Halfcrown |
|---|
| Obverse | Reverse |
|
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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