Help needed from UK coin expert or enthusiast.

[cwilk]

After lunch made my rounds to all the banks asking for interesting coins. My usual bank had just taken a 1944 British Half Crown as a US Half Dollar and asked if I wanted it for 50 cents. Of course I grabbed it. I know its 50 percent silver. It weighs 14 grams. This is .225 troy ounces. What is the official Royal Mint spec for silver content for this coin? I looked a number of places online and all said 50 percent silver and did not give the official number.

I also got a Guatamal 10 centavos for a nickel when buying groceries which happens all the time now. I normally give it back to the cashier. Would be funny if Guatamala wasn't 3000 miles away. Now it's just sad.

Chris

 

[scubadetector]

What year is your half dollar?? Nobody can give you any information without knowing the year.

 

[scubadetector]

USA halves were 90 percent silver until 1964 and including 1964. 1965 - 1969 were silver clad containing 40 percent silver. After 1969 they are 100 percent clad and worth 50 cents. I hope that this will help.

 

[scubadetector]

You know a person is dense when he doesn't read a post right. Sorry cwilk. I will be ok as soon as I have my lunch!! Everyone discrguard my posts here!!

 

[awhitster]

[quote scubadetector]USA halves were 90 percent silver until 1964 and including 1964. 1965 - 1969 were silver clad containing 40 percent silver. After 1969 they are 100 percent clad and worth 50 cents. I hope that this will help.[/quote]Wrong. 40% until 1970. A 1970 is hard to find because they weren't released for general circulation.

 

[scubadetector]

Thanks awhistler, BUT we are totally OFF the subject. Cwilk wants to know about a FORIGN coin he has!!! A British half pound.



I like your signature. please leave a ring after the beep!!

 

[cwilk]

Half Crown. I am interested in Royal Mint metal specs. Here's a snap of the reverse.

Chris

 

[cwilk]

I still haven't found the information I want. Here's what I did find. The coin is 50% silver with the balance being manganese and copper. At some point I believe the Royal Mint stopped using manganese because it caused the coins to turn black. I also read that it is 50 % silver and 50% copper. In 1944 the exchange rate of the GBP to the US Dollar was 4.886:1 so my half crown which is 2/6 (2 shillings 6 pence) is 1/8 of a pound as there were 20 shillings to a pound back then. So in 1944 this coin was worth roughly $0.61. I also read that the slang for the coin was half dollar and that Half Crowns briefly circulated in the US as Half Dollars and that US Half Dollars briefly circulated in the UK as Half Crowns in the late 19th century.

I also got a look at the new UK coins and I'm not sure if I like them or not. They're different for sure. They probably look pretty nice in your hand.

Chris

 

[steve4520]

Hi , i'm a metal detector from the U.K and if you got that coin for 50 cents then you got a real bargain , that coin is worth in a good condition

 

[cwilk]

I like the history of English (UK) money and coins, pre decimal, and always wanted to add a silver crown to my type collection but this half crown will do for now. Also looking for a few silver shillings (George V & Edward VII.) I came across a bunch of old Victoria coins in a box at a rummage sale a while back so now I'm always on the lookout.

The Half Crown I have is probably in VF condition. Do you have a guide to British coins that gives the metal content?

Chris

PS Did you see the George V penny I found in a field MDing about a month ago? One of my all time favorite finds.