Values of Coins of England and Great Britain

('Coins of the UK')

by Tony Clayton

15 - Thirty Pence ('Two and Sixpence' or Half Crown)

Two Shillings or Florin <<-- : -->> 3s, 40d (3/4) and 45d (3/9)

History of the Half Crown
Pictures of Half Crowns

Quick find by reign:

Oliver Cromwell : Charles II : James II : William & Mary : William III : Anne : George I : George II : George III : George IV : William IV : Victoria : Edward VII : George V : George VI : Elizabeth II

It is stressed that the following prices are a guide to retail prices only, and are in UK pounds. They represent what you might have to pay a dealer, rather than what you might be able to sell them for.
I can take no personal responsibility for their accuracy, although every effort has been made to ensure that they have been copied correctly.
The information has generally been taken from the UK monthly magazine Coin News, and is reproduced by the kind permission of

Token Publishing Ltd, PO Box 14, Honiton, Devon EX14 9YP, UK

Condition Grades

The headings F, VF, EF and Unc refer to the condition grades of the coins. A guide to evaluating grades is found on my UK Coin Values Index page.

Proof coins relatively often found are listed, but the absence of a mention does not mean that a proof of that year does not exist.

Quarter Ryal

Halfcrown

Oliver Cromwell

        Year    F       VF      EF 
2/6     1656    ex rare
2/6     1658    1000    1800    3750

Charles II

        Year    F       VF      EF 
2/6     1663    150     600     3500
2/6     1663ns  200     800
2/6     1664    250     1200    5000
2/6     1666    900
2/6     1666el  800     3000
2/6     1667/4  extremely rare
2/6     1668/4  300     1500
2/6     1669    400     1600
2/6     1669/4  250     900
2/6     1670    125     500     2500
2/6     1670R   300     1000
2/6     1671    125     450     2500
2/6     1671/0  150     600     2750
2/6     1672b3  125     500     2500
2/6     1672b4  125     500     2500
2/6     1673    125     500     2350
2/6     1673plbs        extremely rare
2/6     1673pl  5000    15000
2/6     1674    140     650
2/6     1675    125     400     2000
2/6     1676    125     400     1800
2/6     1676i   125     400     2000
2/6     1677    125     400     1500
2/6     1678    200     800
2/6     1679    120     400     1800
2/6     1680    160     725
2/6     1681/0  250
2/6     1681    125     450     2000
2/6     1681ec  3500    10000
2/6     1682    120     450     2750
2/6     1683    120     500     2400
2/6     1683pl  extremely rare
2/6     1684/3  275     850     4000
ns:   no obverse stops
el:   elephant below bust
R:    MRG for MAG
b3:   third bust
b4:   fourth bust
plbs: plumes both sides
pl:   plume below bust
i:    inverted 1 in date
ec:   elephant and castle below bust

James II

        Year    F       VF      EF  
2/6     1685    220     600     2750
2/6     1686    220     600     2750
2/6     1686/5  220     700
2/6     1686v/s 225     750
2/6     1687b1  220     650     3000
2/6     1687/6  300     850
2/6     1687b2  200     600     3000
2/6     1688    200     600     2500
v/s: V over S in JACOBVS
b1:  first bust (Ribbons point down)
b2:  second bust (Ribbons point up)

William & Mary

        Year    F       VF      EF
2/6     1689s1  100     350     1600
2/6     1689fra 160     600     2000
2/6     1689ns  100     500     1850
2/6     1689s2  100     350     1500
2/6     1689np  100     350     1600
2/6     1690    160     700     2600
2/6     1690G   350     1500    4200
2/6     1691    150     450     2100
2/6     1692    150     450     2100
2/6     1693    150     450     2000
2/6     1693i   170     625     2500
s1:  first shield (lions & fleur de lys separate)
s2:  second shield (lions & fleur de lys conjoined)
fra: FRA for FR on reverse
ns:  no stops on obverse
np:  no pearls in crown on reverse
G:   GRETIA instead of GRATIA
i:   3 over inverted 3, or just inverted 3 (scarcer)

William III

        Year    F       VF      EF
2/6     1696le  70      240     900
2/6     1696leB 70      240     1000
2/6     1696leC 80      325     1100
2/6     1696leE 100     400     1300
2/6     1696leN 90      400     1300
2/6     1696ley 80      350     1500
2/6     1696lo  80      275     1350
2/6     1696loC 110     500     1000
2/6     1696loE 100     500     1000
2/6     1696loN 150     600     2250
2/6     1696so  70      250     900
2/6     1696soB 90      300     1000
2/6     1696soC 90      300     1200
2/6     1696soE 100     450     2000
2/6     1696soN 110     450     1500
2/6     1696soy 100     450     1500
2/6     1696b2  one known
2/6     1697    75      300     1000
2/6     1697B   80      300     1000
2/6     1697C   80      350     1100
2/6     1697E   90      350     1100
2/6     1697N   100     350     1100
2/6     1697y   90      350     1100
2/6     1698    100     350     1200
2/6     1698/7  ex.rare
2/6     1699    130     425     1600
2/6     1700    120     375     1300
2/6     1701    125     400     1350
2/6     1701ns  150     600
2/6     1701ec  2000    in fair condition
2/6     1701pl  230     625     2200
l:  large shields
s:  small shields
e:  early harp
o:  ordinary harp
b2: second bust
B:  Bristol mint
C:  Chester mint
E:  Exeter mint
N:  Norwich mint
y:  York Mint
ns: no stops on reverse
ec: elephant & castle below bust
pl: plumes on reverse

Anne

        Year    F       VF      EF
2/6     1703    500     2200
2/6     1703V   100     340     1100
2/6     1704pl  150     500     1600
2/6     1705pl  120     500     1600
2/6     1706rp  90      350     1200
2/6     1707rp  80      300     1000
2/6     1707    80      200     850
2/6     1707E   80      200     850
2/6     1708    80      250     900
2/6     1708E   80      250     900
2/6     1708pl  90      275     1000
2/6     1709    75      270     800
2/6     1709E   220     800
2/6     1710rp  80      325     1000
2/6     1712rp  80      325     1000
2/6     1713    80      325     1000
2/6     1713rp  80      325     1000
2/6     1714rp  80      325     1000
2/6     1714/3  125     500
V:  VIGO
pl: plumes
rp: roses & plumes
E:  Edinburgh mint

George I

        Year    F       VF      EF
2/6     1715rp  450     900     3200
2/6     1717rp  450     900     3200
2/6     1720rp  425     900     3200
2/6     1720/17 370     800     3000
2/6     1723SSC 370     800     2750
2/6     1726rp  3500    22000
rp:  roses & plumes
SSC: SSC on reverse

George II

        Year    F       VF      EF
2/6     1731    proof           4750
2/6     1731rp  140     400     1350
2/6     1732rp  140     400     1350
2/6     1734rp  140     400     1350
2/6     1735rp  140     400     1350
2/6     1736rp  140     400     1350
2/6     1739r   140     370     1100
2/6     1741/30 150     550
2/6     1741r   140     400     1000
2/6     1743r   75      175     700
2/6     1745r   75      175     700
2/6     1745L   65      160     650
2/6     1746L   65      160     650
2/6     1746L/5 80      220     800
2/6     1746    proof           1800
2/6     1750    200     500     1600
2/6     1751    225     700     2000
rp: roses & plumes
r:  roses
L:  LIMA below bust

George III

        Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
2/6     1816    20      75      200     450
2/6     1817lh  20      75      200     450
2/6     1817sh  20      75      200     450
2/6     1818    20      75      200     450
2/6     1819    20      75      200     450
2/6     1819/8  ex. rare
2/6     1820    40      130     400     950
lh: large head
sh: small head

George IV

        Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
2/6     1820    25      70      250     550
2/6     1821    25      70      250     550
2/6     1821    proof                   1500
2/6     1823r1  800     2500
2/6     1823r2  25      70      250     500
2/6     1824r2  30      80      225     600
2/6     1824r3  extremely rare
2/6     1825    25      70      180     400
2/6     1826    25      70      180     400
2/6     1826    proof                   1250
2/6     1828    60      150     400     900
2/6     1829    55      130     375     875
r1b: reverse 1b - garnished (fancy) shield, thistle & shamrock on either side, date under (slightly modified).
r2: reverse 2 - straight sided shield in garter, date under.
r3: reverse 3 - shield with crest, date under King's head
1821 coins come with two almost identical reverses (1a and 1b). The second type (1b) is slightly more valuable than shown above.

William IV

        Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
2/6     1831    extremely rare
2/6     1831    proof                   1500
2/6     1834bWW 30      70      250     600
2/6     1834sWW 30      70      250     600
2/6     1835    35      80      275     650
2/6     1836    30      70      250     600
2/6     1836/5  60      125     500
2/6     1837    40      130     475     1000
bWW: WW in blocks
sWW: WW in script

Victoria

        Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
2/6     1839    750     2500    6500
2/6     1839    proof                   3300
2/6     1840    40      200     600     1350
2/6     1841    700     1200    3000    6000
2/6     1842    50      110     500     1200
2/6     1843    120     300     800     2000
2/6     1844    40      90      450     950
2/6     1845    40      90      450     950
2/6     1846    50      100     475     1000
2/6     1848    90      300     1200    3000
2/6     1848/6  70      225     700     2250
2/6     1849    65      150     500     1250
2/6     1849s   80      180     700     1400
2/6     1850    50      120     500     1400
2/6     1853    proof                   3000
2/6     1874    22      60      220     500
2/6     1875    22      60      220     450
2/6     1876    25      60      220     500
2/6     1876/5  30      60      250     500
2/6     1877    22      60      220     425
2/6     1878    22      60      220     425
2/6     1879    25      60      250     500
2/6     1880    22      60      225     400
2/6     1881    22      60      225     375
2/6     1882    22      60      225     400
2/6     1883    22      60      225     375
2/6     1884    22      60      225     375
2/6     1885    22      60      225     375
2/6     1886    22      60      225     380
2/6     1887y   22      60      225     375
s:  small date

        Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
2/6     1887j   7       12      25      60
2/6     1887j   proof                   225
2/6     1888    10      20      45      135
2/6     1889    10      18      45      120
2/6     1890    10      18      60      140
2/6     1891    10      18      60      140
2/6     1892    10      18      65      150

        Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
2/6     1893    10      20      50      95
2/6     1893    proof                   200
2/6     1894    12      30      75      200
2/6     1895    10      25      65      150
2/6     1896    10      18      55      170
2/6     1897    10      18      55      150
2/6     1898    10      18      55      150
2/6     1899    10      18      55      150
2/6     1900    10      18      55      150
2/6     1901    10      18      55      150

Edward VII

        Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
2/6     1902    10      30      80      145
2/6     1902    proof                   160
2/6     1903    175     525     1800    4000
2/6     1904    60      225     500     1500
2/6     1905    500     1100    4000    7000
2/6     1906    12      45      200     800
2/6     1907    12      45      200     800
2/6     1908    20      75      375     900
2/6     1909    12      50      300     600
2/6     1910    10      40      100     400

George V

Type One: .925 Fine silver

        Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
2/6     1911    8       25      60      140
2/6     1911    proof                   200
2/6     1912    7       18      45      150
2/6     1913    8       20      70      175
2/6     1914    5       12      40      65
2/6     1915    5       12      35      60
2/6     1916    5       12      35      60
2/6     1917    6       14      40      90
2/6     1918    5       12      35      65
2/6     1919    8       15      45      90

        Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
2/6     1920    3       7       20      70
2/6     1921    3       7       20      60
2/6     1922    4       8       22      70
2/6     1923    6       8       18      45
2/6     1924    12      30      80      160
2/6     1925    25      70      250     700
2/6     1926    8       20      40      140

        Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
2/6     1926me  5       12      35      80
2/6     1927    5       10      30      60
me: modified effigy

        Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
2/6     1927    proof                   70
2/6     1928    5       8       18      35
2/6     1929    5       8       18      35
2/6     1930    10      40      250     700
2/6     1931    5       8       18      35
2/6     1932    5       8       22      80
2/6     1933    5       8       18      40
2/6     1934    5       8       50      150
2/6     1935    5       8       15      22
2/6     1936    5       8       15      20

George VI

Type 1: Silver

        Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
2/6     1937            6       9       14
2/6     1937    proof                   20
2/6     1938    5       6       15      25
2/6     1939    5       6       9       10
2/6     1940    5       6       9       10
2/6     1941    5       6       9       10
2/6     1942    5       6       9       10
2/6     1943    5       6       9       10
2/6     1944    5       6       9       10
2/6     1945    5       6       9       10
2/6     1946    5       6       9       10

2/6     1947            1       2       4
2/6     1948            1       2       4

2/6     1949            1       2       6
2/6     1950            1       2       6
2/6     1950    proof   1       2       9
2/6     1951            1       2       6
2/6     1951    proof                   9
2/6     1952    unique

Elizabeth II

Type One: BRITT OMN

        Year    F       VF      EF      Unc
2/6     1953                    1       3
2/6     1953    proof                   5

2/6     1954            1       5       22
2/6     1955                    1       6
2/6     1956                    1       6
2/6     1957                    1       6
2/6     1958            1       5       22
2/6     1959            1       8       25
2/6     1960                    1       2
2/6     1961                            2
2/6     1962                    1       2
2/6     1963                            1
2/6     1964                            1
2/6     1965                            1
2/6     1966                            1
2/6     1967
2/6     1970    proof                   3

Values extracted from Coin News October 2011

The lack of a value for a grade means either that the coin is rarely found in that grade or that its value is less than one pound.

Bullion Value

Very worn coins of Victoria and later may be worth no more than bullion value.

On 16th February 2009 silver bullion was $13.61 per Troy oz (£9.54). The halfcrown prior to 1920 contains 0.4205 oz of silver, and this gives a bullion value of about £4.01 or US$5.72.

Halfcrowns from the period 1920 to 1946 contain 0.2273 oz of silver and thus have a bullion value of £2.17 or US$3.09

Please note that the silver price and exchange rates fluctuate. Current bullion values may be available on my Bullion Value page.

Quick find by reign:

Oliver Cromwell : Charles II : James II : William & Mary : William III : Anne : George I : George II : George III : George IV : William IV : Victoria : Edward VII : George V : George VI : Elizabeth II

Links

Values Index
Values: Previous denomination - Two Shillings or Florin
Values: Next denomination - Three Shillings, 40d and 45d

History of the Half Crown
Main History Index

Pictures of Thirty Pence/Half Crown
Pictures Index

Help and Advice

I would be grateful if you could search the site carefully before mailing me - the answers to the great majority of the questions that I am asked can be found on this site, and I am unlikely to reply quickly to such questions. In particular, I do NOT provide a valuation service.

If you have done this and still wish to ask for advice, feel free to mail me via my Advice page.