The Elizabethan era saw significant changes that impacted the United Kingdom as we know it today, including important historical milestones and the rise of multiculturalism. Acceding to the throne in 1952, Queen Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning monarch in British history in 2015 and is also the only British monarch to have had both a pre-decimal and decimal coinage.

When decimalisation took place in 1971, it was thought that a smaller denomination like the halfpenny would aid familiarity between the new and old systems but the decimal halfpenny the coin was removed from circulation in 1984. The reverse of this halfpenny features a ship design by Humphrey Paget.

This coin is also available as part of The Making of Modern Britain Queen Elizabeth II Pre-Decimal Coin Bundle, which offers collectors the opportunity to own an example of each pre-decimal coin of Elizabeth II’s reign.

*Packaging Image is for example only