The copper halfpenny was introduced during the reign of Charles II (1660–1685) to meet the demand for legal-tender small change. However, production of the halfpenny was sporadic because the coins were difficult to strike profitably. In 1797, The Royal Mint contracted Matthew Boulton to produce copper coinage and the minting of halfpennies was outsourced to the Soho Mint in Birmingham. 

These halfpennies feature a portrait of George III on the obverse and a portrait of a seated Britannia on the reverse.