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1816 Halfcrown George III Silver Coin

1816 Halfcrown George III Silver Coin Reverse

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1816 Halfcrown George III Silver Coin Reverse
1816 Halfcrown George III Silver Coin Obverse

Buy a 1816 Halfcrown

This King George III Halfcrown was struck as part of the Great Recoinage of 1816: a major overhaul of British coinage. Economic difficulties and metal shortages, caused by the French Revolutionary Wars and the ensuing Napoleonic Wars, had curtailed silver coin production for decades. In the aftermath of the Battle of Waterloo, the British government sought to stabilise its currency, authorising the Royal Mint to strike a new gold coin and resume minting silver coinage. These 1816 coins mark the start of the modern Halfcrown series and are the first examples of the denomination issued in George III's reign. 1816 Halfcrowns are equally well-known for the large, bulbous laureate head portrait on their obverse as for their place in numismatic history.
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Description Specification Summary

Shield Of Arms Reverse

The reverse shows a royal shield of arms, encircled by a garter and a collar with a crown above. The design is attributed to Thomas Wyon the Younger and features a legend that reads 'BRITANNIARUM REX FID: DEF:'.

George III Bull Head Portrait

1816 Halfcrowns feature Benedetto Pistrucci's controversial 'Bull Head' portrait of King George III. The bulbous laureate bust is surrounded by an inscription that reads 'GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA' and the date is shown below.

The Great Recoinage Of 1816

Halfcrowns were not struck in the early part of King George III's reign, but the denomination was reintroduced following the Great Recoinage of 1816, which marked a major overhaul of British currency.

New Coinage Halfcrowns

George III new coinage Halfcrowns are lighter than earlier issues, originally struck by the Royal Mint in 14.14 grams of .925 sterling silver. 1816 Halfcrowns feature a milled edge and measure 32 millimetres in diameter and have a medallic alignment.

1816 Halfcrown Mintage

1816-dated Halfcrowns were not issued until 1817, so published mintage figures for the two years are combined at 8,092,656. These historic coins were struck at a new mint on Tower Hill, opposite the Tower of London.