The 1941 half crown was struck at the most anxious time for the Royal Mint: because of the bombing threat near the London Docks, production of nickel-brass and bronze coins was moved in great secrecy to Pinewood, where the new mint began work in June 1941.

About 15.8 million half crowns were struck in 1941. The coin is .500 silver: British half crowns kept this alloy until 1946, after which they changed to cupro-nickel.

The obverse is Thomas Humphrey Paget’s portrait of George VI, with his initials HP below the bust. George Kruger Gray’s reverse shows a crowned shield of the royal arms between crowned monograms, with the titles FID DEF IND IMP. Kruger Gray, who also worked on coins for Australia, Canada and South Africa, died in 1943.

For a collection this is a wartime coin from George VI’s silver series. The F-VF grade means noticeable wear and smoothed high points, while the main details and legends remain legible.

For those who collect coins by subject, whether wildlife, architecture, famous people or sport, the VPcoins catalogue offers other themed issues too.