British Silver Half Crown — .500 Dated Types
Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.
United Kingdom • 50% silver; remaining alloy metals not independently verified
Issue years: 1920–1946
Fine silver: 0.227300 troy oz
United Kingdom • crown
British Silver Crown — .500 Dated Types
These British .500 silver crowns use 28.2759 nominal gross grams and .4545 reference fine silver troy ounce per matching coin. The inspected wreath, 1935 Jubilee and 1937 George VI types collectively list 1927–1937. The reference’s designated melt heading ends in 1935, but its dated records also establish the same .500 standard in 1936 and 1937. Sterling 1935 crowns and gold or other patterns are excluded.
Windrain / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0; Split the genuine side-by-side scan into whole-face halves and converted to WebP; no artwork changes or upscaling; original licence retained · Image source · CC0 1.0
Windrain / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0; Split the genuine side-by-side scan into whole-face halves and converted to WebP; no artwork changes or upscaling; original licence retained · Image source · CC0 1.0
When a fresh spot bid is available, melt values use fine-metal content × spot bid. CashForCoins guide buying offers use the separately configured percentage for each metal. Selected rare/numismatic coins require an appraisal. Dollar amounts remain unavailable when a fresh quote or buying percentage is missing.
Verified coin specifications
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Face denomination
- crown
- Composition
- 50% silver; remaining alloy metals not independently verified
- Gross weight (grams)
- 28.2759
- Fineness
- 0.5
- Fine-metal weight (troy oz)
- 0.4545
- Diameter (mm)
- 38.61
- Edge
- Varies by dated type
- Mint
- Royal Mint; actual specimen attribution required
- Restrikes
- Patterns, other alloys and unresolved replicas excluded
- Issue years
- 1927–1937
Eleven actual family years: wreath KM836 in 1927–1934 and 1936, .500 Jubilee KM842 in 1935, George VI KM857 in 1937. Dated records extend beyond the designated melt heading ending in 1935; the assigned route is retained. The distinct .925 Jubilee KM842a is excluded. Design, edge and finish require actual attribution; patterns and replicas are excluded.
- Source precision
- The reference’s designated melt table gives28.2759 g/.500/.4545 ASW. All three dated types display28.2760 g/.500/.4545 ASW and38.61 mm; the designated gross mass remains controlling without averaging. The assigned 1927–1935 route is retained while sourced actual scope extends through 1937. Edges differ by type; remaining alloy-metal identities and thickness are not independently verified.
Calculate this coin’s metal content
Formula: specified fine-metal troy ounces × quantity. Dollar melt value additionally requires an approved current metal price.
Obverse: identify the front
The genuine 1935 reference photograph shows George V facing left, with his name and royal titles. The reference credits this Jubilee portrait to Bertram MacKennal. George VI’s 1937 portrait is a different design by T.H.Paget. A similar George V portrait alone cannot distinguish an ordinary .500 Jubilee crown from its separate .925 variety.
Reverse: identify the back
The photographed Jubilee reverse shows Saint George on horseback slaying the dragon, with CROWN and 1935 at the top. The reference credits this 1935 design to Percy Metcalfe. It differs from the earlier crown-in-wreath reverse and the 1937 shield with supporters. The reference pair does not show the edge or authenticate a customer coin’s fineness or finish.
History and purpose
The George V wreath crown appears in the late 1920 s and early 1930 s. The 1935 Jubilee changes the reverse to Saint George and the dragon; the wreath design returns for 1936. The 1937 George VI crown has the crowned shield and supporters. Treat these as distinct dated designs within the verified .500 standard, rather than infer a single unchanged design from a broad date range.
How to identify this variant
Confirm the complete crown denomination, monarch, date, reverse and edge. The reference gives 38.61 mm and 28.2760 g for the three dated .500 types, while its designated melt mass is 28.2759 g. The .9251935 KM842a crown has .8409 ASW and must not be counted at .4545. Similar artwork cannot establish the alloy; request specific attribution where the Jubilee edge or finish is unresolved.
Understanding its metal content
One matching crown contributes 0.4545 reference fine silver troy ounce. Three contribute 1.3635 ounce and 84.8277 nominal gross grams. Nominal fine silver mass follows gross mass ×.500; reference ounces retain the reference’s designated rounding. Count only coins matching the verified design and composition. Worn, plated or altered specimens require separate assessment.
Dates, varieties and composition changes
Actual listed issue years for the included types collectively cover 1927–1937. This includes specialised finishes and overlapping designs; it does not promise a regular circulation strike for every type and year.
- KM836 — George V wreath
Specific annual rows cover 1927–1934 and 1936, with proof finishes distinguished. There is no 1935 wreath annual row; the separate Jubilee design supplies that family date.
- KM842 — .500 Jubilee, 1935
The table separately identifies specimen, incused-edge, edge-error and proof/raised-edge entries. These are .500 KM842 records. The visually similar .925 KM842a remains a distinct composition.
- KM857 — George VI, 1937
Regular and several proof finishes are listed for 1937. The reference specifies a reeded edge. The George VI portrait and shield/supporter reverse differ from the photographed Jubilee design; Edward VIII and other patterns are excluded.
Melt value versus collector value
Record the real edge, finish and reverse design with the date. Proof and specimen descriptions do not certify a coin from a face photograph. In particular, 1935 has a separate .925 silver variety, so uncertain pieces should receive specialist attribution before entering a counted .500 lot. Preserve collection packaging and labels; the calculator is not a collector valuation.
Authenticity and condition
Provide both complete faces, the full denomination and issue date, plus an edge photograph and actual measured mass/diameter where available. These genuine reference photographs assist attribution but do not establish authenticity, fineness or finish of your coin. Keep uncertain pieces separate; do not rely only on colour or a matching portrait.
Selling this coin
Sort matching .500 crown pieces away from sterling, other denominations, base-metal issues and unresolved objects. The existing quote link carries the selected coin and quantity for collection details and photographs. Dollar pricing is unavailable until live pricing is configured. Reference metal content is not a purchase offer or a guaranteed recovery amount.
Sources and calculation methodology
The reference’s designated melt table gives 28.2759 g/.500/.4545 ASW. All three dated types display 28.2760 g/.500/.4545 ASW and 38.61 mm; the designated gross mass remains controlling without averaging. The assigned 1927–1935 route is retained while sourced actual scope extends through 1937. Edges differ by type; remaining alloy-metal identities and thickness are not independently verified. Actual annual rows and independent photograph permissions were inspected on 2026-10-11. The displayed photograph represents the 1935 KM842 Jubilee crown design only. Source faces are retained without invented artwork or upscaling; permitted scan splitting and WebP conversion are disclosed in the image credits. No reference price estimates or copied descriptive article text are republished.
Common questions
Does every 1935 silver crown contain the same silver amount?
No. The reference lists .500 KM842 at .4545 ASW and .925 KM842a at .8409 ASW. Similar face artwork does not distinguish their metal content; unresolved edge/finish attribution requires review.
How much reference silver do three matching coins contain?
Three matching coins contain 1.3635 fine silver troy ounce using the designated 0.4545 per coin. This is reference metal content, not a dollar offer.
Do these photographs prove my coin is genuine?
No. They illustrate a sourced representative design. Your actual denomination, date, edge, finish, dimensions and metal attribution still require review.
References
- NGC: designated world-silver melt reference — identity; designated weight; .500 fineness; controlling ASW; broad date envelope (checked 2026-10-11)
- Great Britain Crown KM# 842 dated type — identity; weight; .500 fineness; ASW; diameter by type; dates from specific annual rows; design (checked 2026-10-11)
- Great Britain Crown KM# 836 dated type — identity; weight; .500 fineness; ASW; diameter by type; dates from specific annual rows; design (checked 2026-10-11)
- Great Britain Crown KM# 857 dated type — identity; weight; .500 fineness; ASW; diameter by type; dates from specific annual rows; design (checked 2026-10-11)
- NGC: distinct .9251935 KM842a — exclusion: .9251935 identity; .8409ASW; not assigned .500 metal content (checked 2026-10-11)
- Windrain: genuine 1935 KM842 Jubilee crown design obverse and licence — genuine representative design photograph; independent creator and reuse permission (checked 2026-10-11)
- Windrain: genuine 1935 KM842 Jubilee crown design reverse and licence — genuine representative design photograph; independent creator and reuse permission (checked 2026-10-11)
Issue-year references
- Great Britain Crown KM# 842 dated type
- Great Britain Crown KM# 836 dated type
- Great Britain Crown KM# 857 dated type
Content maintained by CashForCoins. Last substantive record update: 2026-10-11. Report a specification or attribution issue through our contact page.
Related coins
British Silver Threepence — .500 Dated Types
Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.
United Kingdom • 50% silver; remaining alloy metals not independently verified
Issue years: 1920–1946
Fine silver: 0.022700 troy oz
Have this coin or a collection?
Photographs can help identify your coin. An appraisal may consider authenticity, condition and collector demand as well as metal content.
Request a photo appraisal View current silver coin buying information
