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 with a mintage of 40,000 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 40,000 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.
Curator Insights
Historical context
The 1953 half penny was issued during the coronation year of Queen Elizabeth II, marking the transition to the new monarch's coinage. This specific issue is notable for being the only date in the Queen's reign to feature the Latin inscription BRITT:OMN, which was removed from subsequent years as the British Empire transitioned into the Commonwealth. The coin served as a fundamental lower-denomination unit within the pre-decimal pound sterling system.
Design heritage
The obverse features Mary Gillick's first portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, depicting the monarch in a youthful laureate style. The reverse displays the Golden Hind, a three-masted ship associated with Sir Francis Drake, designed by Thomas Humphrey Paget. Paget's ship motif was first introduced to the half penny during the reign of George VI in 1937 and remained the standard design until the denomination was discontinued.
Varieties and technical notes
Standard currency strikes feature a plain edge and were produced at the Royal Mint in London with a medal alignment. Collectors should distinguish these from the specimen strikes included in the 1953 coronation sets, which often exhibit sharper finishes and more defined frosting. Surface inspections should focus on the legend spacing and the clarity of the HP initials to ensure the strike quality is consistent with typical 1953 production standards.
Survival and modern availability
Despite the total mintage of 40,000 indicated for this specific specification, many examples were preserved in coronation sets as souvenirs of the new reign. The denomination was eventually demonetized in 1969 ahead of the 1971 decimalization, leading to significant quantities being withdrawn from circulation and melted. Surviving examples in high grades are generally sourced from original mint sets rather than from general circulation find.
Related pieces
More from United Kingdom
Other ½ Penny - Elizabeth II 1st portrait; with 'BRITT:OMN' issues
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Browse more items in the full catalog or view United Kingdom in the country guide.