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Halfpenny: Introduction
The halfpenny coin was introduced in 1672 and was minted until 1984 when inflation made it almost worthless. Worth half a penny (1/480th of One Pound), it was usually pronounced 'ape-knee'. From 1672 until 1936 the image of Britannia appeared on the reverse; from 1937 until decimalisation it featured the Golden Hind (the ship of Sir Francis Drake). The halfpenny ceased to be legal tender from 31 July 1969 and the decimal halfpenny was introduced in February 1971 (now called the 'half pence'). The coin was demonetised in December 1984.
The following have minted Halfpenny during their reign:
Canute (Cnut) (1016-1035) | ||
George III (1760-1820) | ||
Victoria (1837-1901) | ||
Elizabeth II (1952-2022) |