What is "half crown"

n. an English coin worth half a crown

The half crown was a denomination of British money, equivalent to two shillings and sixpence, or one-eighth of a pound. The half crown was first issued in 1549, in the reign of Edward VI. No half crowns were issued in the reign of Mary, but from the reign of Elizabeth I half crowns were issued in every reign except Edward VIII, until the coins were discontinued in 1967.

The half crown was demonetised (ahead of other pre-decimal coins) on 1 January 1970, the year before the United Kingdom adopted decimal currency on Decimal Day. During the English Interregnum of 1649–1660, a republican half crown was issued, bearing the arms of the Commonwealth of England, despite monarchist associations of the coin's name. When Oliver Cromwell made himself Lord Protector of England, half crowns were issued bearing his semi-royal portrait. The half crown did not display its value on the reverse until 1893.

The half crown (2s 6d) coin was a subdivision of the pre-decimal Irish pound, worth of a pound. The half crown was commonly called "two and six" due to its value of two shillings and sixpence (indicated on the coin itself as '2s 6d').

The original minting of the coin from 1928 to 1943 contained 75% silver, a higher content than the equivalent British coin. The silver coins were quite distinguishable as they had a whiter appearance than the later cupronickel variety minted from 1951. The silver coins wore less well. The subsequent cupronickel coin was 75% copper and 25% nickel.

The coin measured in diameter and weighed 14.1 grams. The reverse design of the coin, by Percy Metcalfe featured an Irish Hunter, a breed of horse. This design was used later for the twenty pence coin issued in 1986. The obverse featured the Irish harp. From 1928 to 1937 the date was split either side of the harp with the name Saorstát Éireann circling around. From 1938 to 1967 the inscription changed to Éire on the left of the harp and the date on the right.

The last half crowns were produced in 1967 and it was withdrawn on 1 January 1970.

Half crown may refer to:

• Half crown (British coin), a pre-decimalisation coin of the United Kingdom
• Half crown (Irish coin), a pre-decimalisation coin of Ireland