The 1928 King George V silver half crown: A chunk of history...

Few pieces feel as satisfying in the hand as the half crown. One of my most cherished examples is the 1928 King George V silver half crown—a coin that speaks of a time when silver still held real value in the change jingling in people’s pockets.

Struck in .500 fine silver (as was standard after 1920), the 1928 half crown weighs 14.14 grams and measures 32mm across, making it one of the larger and more impressive silver coins in the circulating currency of the time. While the silver content had dropped from sterling, the coin still retained a solid feel and a sense of significance in daily commerce.

On the obverse, we find the familiar bearded portrait of King George V by Sir Bertram Mackennal—a monarch depicted with strength, wisdom, and the steady presence of a king who guided Britain through World War I and the turbulent years that followed. The reverse boasts a beautifully detailed royal shield design with the quartered arms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, all under an ornate crown. The lettering proudly declares its value: "HALF CROWN."

What I love most about this 1928 half crown is that it represents both stability and change. The coin circulated in an era when Britain was recovering from war, adjusting to a modernising world, and slowly seeing silver fade from its everyday currency. Yet, holding this piece today, you feel its weight—not just in grams of silver, but in history and heritage.

My 1928 half crown is no museum-grade specimen; it bears the marks of use, the smoothness of time. And that’s what makes it special. It’s a reminder that silver coins weren’t always tucked away in stacks—they were part of life, exchanged for goods, carried for luck, and treasured by generations.