Colonial Era England | Copper Half Penny

The English halfpenny minted between 1672 and 1776 was a small copper coin widely used in Britain and its American colonies for everyday transactions. It was introduced to address the need for low-denomination currency and quickly became essential for trade among the working class. The design remained consistent throughout this period, featuring the reigning monarch’s portrait on the obverse and a seated Britannia on the reverse, symbolizing Britain’s naval power and stability.

In the American colonies, the halfpenny played a key role in daily commerce, supplementing local economies that often lacked sufficient official coinage. While British merchants used it in trade, its supply in the colonies was inconsistent, sometimes forcing people to rely on alternative currencies, including Spanish and French coins. Despite these fluctuations, the halfpenny remained one of the most commonly used British coins in colonial markets.

By 1776, as Britain faced growing political and economic challenges, including the American Revolution, the halfpenny was still widely used for small transactions in Britain and its territories. Its circulation in the colonies declined due to disruptions in trade, but in Britain, it continued to serve as a practical and familiar currency.

Ancient Artifacts guarantees the Authenticity of items sold through a three layer system of protection: 

1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

Your coin will look very similar to the ones shown in the photos. There will always be some variety, given our items are unique historical pieces. The display case included is openable so that you may easily handle and closely observe the artifact.If for whatever reason you get anything that does not fit this description you are entitled to your money back! 

Colonial-era coins, minted during the period of European colonization in the Americas (16th–18th centuries), were mass-produced to support the growing economies of colonies and facilitate trade across vast empires. These coins were typically made of durable metals like silver, gold, and copper, using presses or hammered techniques that allowed for large-scale production. 

Owning a colonial-era coin today is possible due to their durability, widespread use, and the frequency with which they were hoarded or lost during their time of circulation. Many coins were made of precious metals, which not only ensured their resilience to corrosion but also motivated individuals to preserve them as stores of value. Hoards of coins buried for safekeeping or lost in shipwrecks have been discovered over the centuries, contributing to their availability in the modern market. Additionally, their use across large geographical areas, especially coins like the Spanish dollar, means that colonial coins were widely dispersed, increasing their chances of survival.