1967 British Halfpenny
The 1967 British halfpenny was the last circulating halfpenny before decimalisation in Great Britain in 1971. Although the coins were dated 1967, coins continued to be struck into 1968 with a frozen date to minimise hoarding of the final halfpennies. It was the highest mintage of any halfpenny and as a result, 1967 halfpennies are generally worth their scrap metal content, with only the finest examples having any value.
The 1967 halfpenny was struck with two different obverse dies - Freeman obverse 3 on which the I of DEI points to a rim bead and Freeman obverse 4 on which the I of DEI points between rim beads. Given the high mintage of 1967 halfpennies, neither varieties is rare, but a small survey of 1967-dated halfpennies suggested that the obverse 3 coins account for approximately 90% of the total mintage.
More details about British bronze farthing and halfpenny varieties can be found in the new reference book A Treatise on Varieties of British Fractional Bronze 1860-1970.
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