How Much Is a Half Crown Worth Today?
A half crown was worth two shillings and sixpence — 12½p in today's money.
It was one of the most-used coins in pre-decimal Britain, and the silver versions are worth more than their face value today.
At a glance
- Old value
- 2s 6d
- Today's face value
- 12½p
- Made of
- Silver (pre-1947), then cupronickel
- Withdrawn
- 1 January 1970
🪙 Old money converter · ONS price data
2s 6d converts to exactly 13p in decimal currency — that part never changes. But prices have risen about 48× since 1950, so it had the spending power of roughly £6.02 today. That gap is why 13p feels so wrong to anyone who remembers using it.
Every pre-decimal coin, in 1950 money
| Coin | Old value | Decimal | Worth today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farthing | ¼d | 0.1p | 5.01p |
| Halfpenny | ½d | 0.21p | 10p |
| Penny | 1d | 0.42p | 20p |
| Threepence | 3d | 1.25p | 60p |
| Sixpence | 6d | 2.5p | £1.20 |
| Shilling | 1s | 5p | £2.41 |
| Florin | 2s | 10p | £4.81 |
| Half crown | 2s 6d | 13p | £6.02 |
| Crown | 5s | 25p | £12.03 |
| Ten bob note | 10s | 50p | £24.07 |
| Pound | £1 | £1.00 | £48.14 |
| Guinea | 21s | £1.05 | £50.55 |
Purchasing power from the Office for National Statistics, Retail Prices Index: Long run series: 1800 onwards (series CDKO), annual averages, 1800–2025. Face values are fixed by the 1971 decimalisation arithmetic (12d = 1s, 20s = £1). A price index tracks a typical basket of goods, so it is a guide to general spending power rather than the price of any one thing. Collectable coins can be worth far more than either figure.
How much is a half crown worth today?
A half crown converts to 12½p — it was worth two shillings and sixpence (2s 6d), an eighth of a pound. Silver half crowns (1946 and earlier) are worth more than that today, for their metal and to collectors.
Face value is only half the answer, though. What a half crown bought depended entirely on when you spent it — prices have risen many times over since these coins were in daily use. Set the year in the converter above to see the spending power behind the coin, using the Office for National Statistics long-run price index.
What was a half crown?
The half crown, worth 2s 6d (an eighth of a pound), was a workhorse of everyday British money for centuries. It was struck in sterling silver until 1920, a reduced-silver alloy until 1946, and cupronickel from 1947. It was withdrawn on 1 January 1970, just ahead of decimalisation.
A half crown in today's money
Two shillings and sixpence converts to 12½p. There was no neat decimal coin equivalent, which is partly why it was retired early. Its purchasing power was far greater than 12½p buys now — in the mid-20th century a half crown could cover a modest meal or a few household basics.
For context, the old system ran on pounds, shillings and pence (£sd): £1 was 20 shillings, and each shilling was 12 pence. See how much a shilling is worth today for the coin at the heart of it.
Are old half crowns worth anything to collectors?
Half crowns dated 1946 or earlier contain silver and are worth at least their bullion value, with scarcer dates and higher grades worth more. Post-1947 cupronickel half crowns are common and usually worth well under a pound unless in top condition.
If old coins interest you, our guide to what makes coins valuable is a good next read.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a half crown in today's money?
It was 2s 6d, which converts to 12½p. Silver examples from 1946 and earlier are worth more for their metal and to collectors.
Why was the half crown withdrawn before decimalisation?
It had no neat decimal equivalent, so it was demonetised on 1 January 1970 to smooth the switch to decimal currency in February 1971.
Other old coins: Shilling · Crown · Florin · Guinea · Sixpence · Threepence · Farthing
Coin values are a general guide only. Collector values vary widely by date, condition and metal — for a valuable coin, get it assessed by a reputable dealer or auction house.
