1944 United Kingdom ½ Penny (1⁄480)
(United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown
- Listing Type:
- This item is Cataloged Online in my Personal Coin Collection
- Certified by:
- Other
Item Description
| Issuer | United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies)  |
|---|---|
| King | George VI (1936-1952) |
| Type | Standard circulation coins |
| Years | 1937-1948 |
| Value | ½ Penny (1⁄480) |
| Currency | Pound sterling (1158-1970) |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 5.67 g |
| Diameter | 26 mm |
| Thickness | 1.3 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | 1 August 1969 |
| Number |
N#
870
 |
| References | KM# 844, Sp# 4115 |
Obverse
Uncrowned portrait of King George VI facing left, legend around.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP:
HP
Unabridged legend: Georgius VI Dei Gratia Britanniarum Omnium Rex Fidei Defensor Indiae Imperator
Translation: George the Sixth by the Grace of God King of all the Britains Defender of the Faith Emperor of India
Engraver: Thomas Humphrey Paget
Reverse
Three-masted ship sailing left, denomination above, date below.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
HALF PENNY
HP
1943
Engraver: Thomas Humphrey Paget
Edge
Plain
Mint
Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom (1810-1975)
Comments
The standard weight of these pieces was 80 to the pound or one fifth ounce avoirdupois (87½ grains).
The ship featured on the reverse design, which first appeared on the 1937 halfpenny pattern of Edward VIII, is based on Sir Francis Drake's Golden Hind, in which he became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe between 1577 and 1580.
This type uses a slightly re-worked reverse die for each year. The differences are very small and only the 1940 can be said to have genuine varieties, as three reverses can be found with this date. The image below shows these differences and is reproduced with the kind permission of Declan Magee and Numista member Sjoelund. Full details of the differences between all the reverses can be found in Freeman.
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin