half crown

noun

1. a former silver or cupronickel coin of Great Britain equal to two shillings and sixpence: use phased out after decimalization in 1971.

half-crown

noun

1. Also called: half-a-crown. a British silver or cupronickel coin worth two shillings and sixpence (now equivalent to 12 1/ 2 p), taken out of circulation in 1970

Word History and Origins

Origin of half-crown¹

First recorded in 1535–45

Example Sentences

After weeks of non-payment the miners went on strike, upon which Mr Davies is said to have thrown his last half-crown into the crowd, proclaiming: "Have that as well. Just give me another week".

From BBC

That I should innocently take a bad half-crown of somebody else’s manufacture is reasonable enough; but that I should knowingly reckon the spurious coin of my own make as good money!

From Literature

A half-crown tip put the deputy’s knowledge at my disposal, and I learned that Mr. Bloxam, who had slept off the remains of his beer on the previous night at Corcoran’s, had left for his work at Poplar at five o’clock that morning.

From Literature

Gate receipts totalled £1,810, plus around £800 from the half-crown contributions, resulting in the event making a profit that was enough to ensure the British team could defend the trophy in the US in 1931.

From BBC

Before I was born, my mother - a woman who had she found a half-crown on the street, would have taken it to the police station - bribed a high-ranking police officer.

From BBC