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1/2 Crown - George II Older bust
| Issuer | Royal Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1743-1751 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1/2 Crown (1/8) |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | M·B·F·ET H·REX·F·D·B ET·L·D·S·R·I A·T·ET·E·17 46· (Translation: King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire) |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
The older bust halfcrowns of George II were struck during a period when British silver coinage was in chronic short supply — the consequence of decades of undervalued silver relative to gold under the prevailing bimetallic ratio, which drove silver out of circulation through Gresham's Law. By the 1740s, worn and clipped older issues still dominated everyday trade despite official efforts to address the gap.
Spink references 3694 through 3696 distinguish minor die variations across the run, with the 1745 Lima issue — struck from silver captured by Commodore Anson's squadron from Spanish vessels off the South American coast — representing the most historically specific piece in the series.