half crown

noun

1. a former silver or cupronickel coin of Great Britain equal to two shillings and sixpence: use phased out after decimalization in 1971.

half-crown

noun

1. Also called: half-a-crown. a British silver or cupronickel coin worth two shillings and sixpence (now equivalent to 12 1/ 2 p), taken out of circulation in 1970

Word History and Origins

Origin of half-crown¹

First recorded in 1535–45

Example Sentences

It was heard all of the coins were silver and included half crowns, shillings and sixpences.

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Morris sent two canvas bags containing “410 Spanish dollars, two English crowns, 10 shillings sixpence, and a French half crown.”

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It was on his right side, just below his rib cage, about the size of a half crown.

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He places a half crown like the one I received as victor on my head, but it’s made of a heavy black metal, not gold.

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"There were about 500 clippings - like pig tails - ranging from half crowns right down to pennies, all silver."

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