ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Australian Coin Information · Public domain
Elizabeth II Halfpenny
South Africa
1953–1960
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$0.07
Based on Copper spot price ($6.07/oz) · 95.0% purity · 5.65g
Updated 10:13 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | South Africa |
| Years Minted | 1953–1960 |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 5.65 g |
| Diameter | 25.5 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II facing right.
Reverse
Depicts a springbok antelope.
History & Notable Facts
The most striking thing about the South African Elizabeth II halfpenny is its reverse design: a simple aloe plant, emblematic of the country's arid landscapes, which replaced earlier British motifs.
These bronze coins, struck at the Pretoria mint from 1953 to 1960, weighed just over five grams and measured 25 millimeters across. That size made them practical for everyday transactions in a pre-decimal economy. Production varied by year, though exact figures are murky; some records burned in a 1970s archive fire.
The obverse bore Mary Gillick's portrait of the queen, a design shared across the Commonwealth. Not every strike was perfect; edge errors occasionally appeared, delighting the odd collector.
It's worth noting that while myths persist about hidden silver content, these were pure bronze affairs. No gold in sight, I'm afraid.
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