Material: Bronze (95.5% Copper, 3% Tin, 1.5% Zinc)
Diameter: 25.5 mm
Mint / Mintmark: Royal Mint, London (no mintmark)
Obverse: This numismatic piece captures the obverse design of the British halfpenny struck during the final years of King George V's reign. The central motif displays an uncrowned, finely detailed left-facing profile portrait of the king. Encircling the regal image is the formal Latin inscription "GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:". This full abbreviation translates to "George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India". The entire design is enclosed by a prominent, uniform beaded border running along the outermost rim of the bronze planchet.
Reverse: Seated Britannia facing right with trident and Union Jack shield, HALF PENNY and date 1934 below.
Circa: 1934
Condition: Fine – Very Fine; warm brown tone with some even wear across Britannia’s gown and shield, sharp rims and clear date.
Notes:
This 1934 halfpenny belongs to the final design series of George V, featuring the modified, slightly smaller portrait engraving adapted by the Royal Mint to improve strike quality. Interestingly, halfpennies minted in 1934 saw a massive production run of over 21 million pieces, making them a common sight in daily commerce throughout the Great Depression. The composition consists of a durable alloy containing 95.5% copper, 3% tin, and 1.5% zinc, which gave these coins a bright red luster when freshly struck that naturally tones to a deep chocolate brown over time. This specific obverse format was permanently replaced in 1937 following the ascension of George VI, who introduced a completely redesigned reverse featuring Sir Francis Drake's golden hind ship.