half crown

American  

noun

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

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half-crown British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of half crown

First recorded in 1535–45

Example Sentences

Shoppers had to learn how to use decimalised currency from 14 February 1971 Do you remember the tanner, shilling, florin and half crown?

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2011

The payoffs run from a half crown to the maximum of �75,000.

From Time Magazine Archive

Freckled brown orchids sold at a half crown a bunch in Piccadilly, where the crowds window-shopped before late dinners or after big late teas in crowded Lyons' Corner Houses.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

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.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins