Coin

½ Crown - George V 1st type (1912) — United Kingdom

United Kingdom • 1912 • KM# 818.1, Sp# 4011

½ Crown - George V 1st type (1912) — United Kingdom

Overview

George V 1st type half crown coin from the United Kingdom, minted in 1912.

Specifications

Country
United Kingdom
Year
1912
Composition
Silver (.925)
Weight
14.14 g
Diameter
32.3 mm
Mint
Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom (1810-1975)
Shape
Round
Technique
Milled
References
KM# 818.1, Sp# 4011
Issuer
United Kingdom

Design details

Obverse

Uncrowned portrait of King George V left, legend around. Lettering: GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX. Translation: George the Fifth by the Grace of God King of all the Britains.

Reverse

Crowned quartered shield of arms within Garter band, legend around, divided date below. Lettering: · FID: DEF: IND: IMP: · HALF · CROWN HONI SOIT· QVI MAL· Y PENSE·. Translation: Defender of the Faith Emperor of India Shame on he who thinks evil of it.

Collector insights

  • Design heritage: Edgar Bertram MacKennal (obverse), George William de Saulles (reverse) is credited as the designer for the Standard circulation coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
  • Struck at: Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom (1810-1975). Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
  • Mintage vs. survival: A moderate mintage of 4,700,700. Grade rarity is usually the driver of value here — mid-grade circulated pieces are common, but original-surface uncirculated coins can command a strong premium.
  • Precious metal content: Silver (.925) — bullion value provides a price floor, and many circulated examples were melted during the 1979–1980 and post-2010 silver spikes, reducing the surviving population.
  • Catalogue reference: Listed as KM# 818.1, Sp# 4011. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.

Curator Insights

Historical context

Following the death of Edward VII, the 1912 half crown represents the early years of King George V's reign. This issue predates the debasement of British silver coinage that occurred following the First World War, maintaining the traditional sterling standard of .925 fineness. The denomination served as a significant high-value unit in the pre-decimal sterling system, equivalent to two shillings and sixpence.

Design heritage

The obverse features the left-facing portrait of George V by Edgar Bertram MacKennal, whose initials 'B.M.' are typically located on the truncation of the neck. The reverse displays the crowned quartered shield of arms within the Garter band, a legacy design by George William de Saulles. The intricate heraldry includes the lions of England, the lion of Scotland, and the harp of Ireland, surrounded by the French motto of the Order of the Garter.

Varieties and technical notes

This mintage was produced with a reeded edge and a milled finish at the Royal Mint in London. Collectors typically look for sharpness in the shield's detail and the king's beard as indicators of strike quality. While no major die varieties are recognized for this specific year, specimens should be examined for consistent rim thickness and clear date separation.

Survival and modern availability

Although the mintage exceeded four million pieces, a significant portion of the 1912 issue was removed from circulation and melted following the 1920 Currency Act, which reduced silver content to 50%. High-grade examples are relatively scarce due to heavy circulation use during the early 20th century. The remaining population consists largely of pieces preserved by collectors prior to the total demonetization of the half crown in 1970.

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