What it would buy in today's money
Because prices have risen so much, a half crown bought far more in the past than its decimal value suggests:
| Year | A half crown in 2025 prices |
|---|---|
| 1850 | £23.64 |
| 1900 | £21.58 |
| 1938 | £11.82 |
| 1950 | £6.02 |
| 1960 | £4.04 |
| 1970 | £2.72 |
About the half crown
Worth two shillings and sixpence, the half crown was one of the most familiar coins in Britain for centuries. Eight of them made a pound. It was withdrawn at the start of 1970, as it had no exact decimal equivalent coin (it would have been 12½p).
When it went: Withdrawn at the start of 1970.
Quick facts
| Value | 2s 6d (30d) |
| Decimal equivalent | 12½p |
| Nickname | half a dollar |
| Per pound | 8 |
Today's values use the ONS composite price index (Open Government Licence v3.0).
Common questions
How much was a half crown worth in decimal money?
A half crown was worth 2s 6d (30d), which is 12½p in decimal money.
How many half crowns were in a pound?
There were 8 half crowns in a pound.
What would a half crown from 1950 be worth today?
About £6.02 in 2025 prices, based on ONS price data.
Other old coins
Farthing · Halfpenny · Penny · Threepenny bit · Sixpence · Shilling · Florin · Crown · Ten-shilling note · Sovereign · Guinea