Half crowns are generally worth more than their face value of 30p, with most valued for their silver content. Pre-1920 coins (0.925 silver) are worth over £16 in bullion, while 1920-1946 coins (0.500 silver) are worth roughly £8–£9. Rare, high-grade, or early Victorian, Edward VII, and George V, and George VI, and Elizabeth II coins can fetch higher collector prices.
GB Classic Coins are committed to offering the best prices for your old British coins. We consider anything from single coins to whole collections. We're particularly interested in pre-decimal silver coins such as crowns, double florins, half crowns, florins, shilling, sixpences and threepences.
A 1948 half crown's value varies greatly by condition, ranging from under £1 for heavily worn coins (Very Good) to several pounds (or even higher for Uncirculated or proof examples), with most common circulated coins fetching around £1.50 to £5, as it's a common cupronickel issue from King George VI's reign.
How much is the 1972 Elizabeth and Philip crown worth?
The 1972 Silver Wedding Anniversary Crown coin is technically worth 25p and is legal tender in the UK, though you will struggle to spend or exchange them.
The halfcrown prior to 1920 contains 0.4205 oz of silver, and this gives a bullion value of about £16.46 or US$21.67. Halfcrowns from the period 1920 to 1946 contain 0.2273 oz of silver and thus have a bullion value of £8.90 or US$11.72. Please note that the silver price and exchange rates fluctuate.
A 1974 penny could be worth millions, but only if it's the extremely rare aluminum version, an experimental coin the U.S. Mint tried making due to high copper prices, with examples potentially valued over $2 million, though owning one is technically illegal as they were meant to be returned, leading to legal battles and controversy over those that escaped. Standard copper 1974 pennies are common and worth very little, though high-grade examples or those with specific errors (like a doubled die or repunched mint mark) might fetch a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, not millions.
Take out any pennies, half-pennies, 12-sided brass three-penny coins, and silver coins dated 1947 to the present day. These coins contain no precious metal. We still buy these at £3 per kilo. Pick out all the silver coins dated from 1920 to 1946 - these are your 50% silver coins.
Which is more valuable, a half crown or a shilling?
The value of a half crown was two shillings and sixpence, often written as 2/6. In the old pre-decimal system, there were 20 shillings to a pound, so one half crown was one-eighth of a pound. This made it one of the more useful coins for bigger payments.
While you may be tempted to polish your coins to make them look shiny and new, proceed with caution. Polishing and/or cleaning coins can reduce their value. Older coins that show deep age coloration are more desirable than coins whose surfaces have been stripped away by improper polishing or cleaning.
The cupro-nickel coinage was first made in 1947 and this type was only made for two years 1947 and 1948. We have the King George VI 1948 Shillings issued with the Scottish reverse in About Uncirculated. Both are difficult to find, as this is an anniversary year, they were struck 70 years ago.
The Halfpenny of King George V is the most difficult bronze denomination to get, especially if you are trying to put a date set together. These early dates 1911-25 are the most difficult of the dates to find. Each coin is in selected circulated condition and remember that they are almost 100 years old.
The 1943 penny worth $1 million (or more) is a rare 1943 Bronze (Copper) Penny, an accidental mint error where copper planchets from 1942 were mistakenly struck with the 1943 date, making them non-magnetic and very valuable, with one selling for over $1.7 million. Standard 1943 pennies were made of steel (magnetic) to save copper for the war effort and are common, while these copper error coins are extremely rare, with only a handful known to exist, making them true collector's "Holy Grail" coins.
It is believed that the overall mintage of the 1923 Halfpenny was less than 15,000, with a Of those that have survived, most are in heavily circulated, well-worn condition. In much-better-than-usually-seen quality, the few Very Fine examples in stock will be snapped up at super speed.
Collectible British coins range from historically significant rarities like the Edward VIII 1937 pattern 5-pound coin to popular modern commemoratives, with valuable examples often involving low mintages (e.g., 1933 Penny, Queen Anne Vigo Five-Guineas), unique errors (e.g., 1882 penny without 'H'), or special proofs, appealing to collectors for historical insight and investment, with options from ancient times to recent Royal Mint issues. Key areas include gold Sovereigns, rare pennies, commemorative 50p/£2 coins, and early milled silver.
Why Are Pre-1947 Coins Still Valuable? For centuries, British coins were struck from precious metals. Gold was used for higher-value pieces such as Guineas and Sovereigns, while everyday change, from Halfcrowns to Sixpences, was traditionally made of silver.
Is Charles and Diana's wedding coin worth anything?
To celebrate the wedding of Charles and Diana in July 1981, The Royal Mint produced a commemorative coin. Now this historic piece is being listed online for £10,000, but it's not all that it seems. A coin produced to mark the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana is being listed for £10,000 online.
