Coin
½ Penny - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; with 'BRITT:OMN' (1953) — United Kingdom
United Kingdom • 1953 • KM# 882, Sp# 4155
Overview
A 1953 United Kingdom Half Penny coin, Matte Proof version.
Specifications
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Year
- 1953
- Composition
- Bronze
- Weight
- 5.67 g
- Diameter
- 25.4 mm
- Mint
- Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London
- Shape
- Round
- Technique
- Milled
- References
- KM# 882, Sp# 4155
- Issuer
- United Kingdom
Design details
Obverse
Young laureate bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, with the legend '+ELIZABETH II DEI GRA:BRITT:OMN:REGINA F:D' and 'M-G-' around the edge.
Reverse
A three-masted ship sailing to the left, with 'HALF PENNY' above and the date '1953' below. The initials 'HP' are also present.
Collector insights
- Design heritage: Mary Gillick (obverse), Thomas Humphrey Paget (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. Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
- Low mintage: Only 2 pieces reported. This puts the issue into key-date territory for its series; expect steep grade-based price scaling and a higher counterfeit risk — provenance and third-party grading matter.
- Catalogue reference: Listed as
KM# 882, Sp# 4155. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.
Related pieces
More from United Kingdom
Other ½ Penny - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; with 'BRITT:OMN' issues
Explore more
Browse more items in the full catalog or view United Kingdom in the country guide.