Elizabeth II 2nd portrait

Description

This is the 1982 BU issue with a mintage of 106,800. From Decimalisation Day on 15th February 1971, the production of the ½ New Penny was necessary since the old sixpence (with a decimal face value of 2.5p) continued in use up until 1980 and merchants had the ability to charge in nearly as small units as they could previously with the old money.The word 'new' was dropped from the reverse of the half penny from 1982 and the final issue in 1984 was not struck for circulation and can only be found in the Annual Coin Sets in both Brilliant Uncirculated & Proof versions.The Treasury continued to argue that the halfpenny was important in the fight against inflation until the coin became uneconomical to produce and consequently was demonetised and withdrawn from circulation in December 1984. Banks sent unused stocks back to the Royal Mint to be melted down, therefore less of the original mintage remains.