1938 is a trickier date than its neighbours, in keeping with the principle of
the "second date". People tended to hoard the first issue of a new
monarch or effigy, but not the second. It is useful to compare the
following date pairs with this in mind:
1887/1888
1902/1903
1911/1912
1937/1938
1953/1954
There is a unique example of a 1952 currency half crown, that turned up
in a coin collector’s change in 1967. This is a marvellous story, and
I cannot tell it any better than one of its owners can:
An interesting point to note is the change in the design of the shield
from the previous reign. The new halfcrown features a heraldic
shield hanging by a ring and pin — George V's halfcrowns displayed a
"tilting shield", with a slot at top left, for a jousting lance.
George V vs George VI Halfcrown designs
This new design was intended to portray a less martial, more peaceful
impression. The reign did not, unfortunately, turn out quite as
peacefully as the designer had hoped.
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
