Halfpenny - Harold II Pax type; with sceptre

Harold was the son of Earl Godwine of Essex, who had dominated the royal court, and was brother-in-law to Edward the Confessor. Harold successfully repulsed an invasion of Harold Hadrada of Norway but was himself killed in the Battle of Hastings after a reign of ten months.

Medieval coins were cut into halves and quarters to provide fractional denominations without the need to strike new coins. It is thought these were generally cut at the mint, although it is also likely to have happened during transactions. Cut halfpennies are known in England from Anglo-Saxon times (c. 750s) until Edward I introduced round farthings and halfpennies in 1279.

('A' suffix has been added to the Spink reference to differentiate from the full penny.)