Medieval silver halfpenny of King John London

Code: 12261

This is a medieval silver Halfpenny of King John struck at the London mint between 1199 - 1216 AD. 

Obverse: hЄNRICVS | RЄX  "King Henry" Legend around crowned facing portrait, with sceptre in right hand.

Reverse: RICARD.T.ON.LVND "Ricard.T. of London"

This coin started life as a penny, but it was necessitated in trade to chop the coins into smaller fractional denominations as halfpennies and farthings. These coins were legal tender and a halfpenny was simply a penny cut in half, whilst farthings (four things) were divided into four parts. 

DENOMINATION: Halfpenny

CULTURE: Medieval England

MONARCH: John

DATE: 1199 - 1216 AD

MATERIAL: Silver

SIZE: 18mm x 9mm 

WEIGHT: 0.72 grams

ATTRIBUTION: Spink 1350B

PROVENANCE: Formerly in a private collection, in Cambridgeshire.