1949 NEW ZEALAND HALF CROWN – GEORGE VI
£20.00
A 1949 New Zealand Halfcrown struck in .500 silver, featuring the bare‑headed portrait of King George VI with the legend KING GEORGE THE SIXTH, and the New Zealand shield framed by Māori motifs on the reverse. A key late pre‑decimal silver issue.
1 in stock
The 1949 New Zealand Halfcrown is part of the post‑war Commonwealth silver coinage issued under King George VI. Struck in .500 silver, it represents one of the final years of New Zealand’s large silver denominations before debasement and eventual decimalisation.
Obverse
Bare‑headed portrait of King George VI facing left, with the New Zealand‑specific legend: KING GEORGE THE SIXTH This portrait replaced the crowned bust used on earlier issues and is distinctive to New Zealand’s mid‑century coinage.
Reverse
The shield from the New Zealand Coat of Arms, flanked and framed by traditional Māori motifs. Denomination HALF CROWN above, date 1949 below. This shield‑only design is characteristic of New Zealand’s silver series from 1933–1949.
Historical Notes
- One of the final .500 silver halfcrowns before the denomination was discontinued.
- The bare‑headed portrait is unique to New Zealand’s George VI issues.
- Highly collectable due to its large size, silver content, and strong national symbolism.
Specifications
- Country: New Zealand
- Denomination: Halfcrown
- Year: 1949
- Monarch: George VI
- Metal: .500 Silver
- Weight: 14.14 g
- Diameter: 32 mm
- Edge: Reeded
- Obverse: Bare head of King George VI left
- Obverse Legend: KING GEORGE THE SIXTH
- Reverse: New Zealand shield framed by Māori motifs
- Mintage: 2,000,000 (rounded)
- Designer: Obverse by Thomas Humphrey Paget; reverse by New Zealand Heraldic authorities
SEO Tags: New Zealand, Halfcrown, 1949, George VI, KING GEORGE THE SIXTH, Māori motifs, Shield reverse, Pre‑decimal silver, Commonwealth coinage, NZ coins, Numismatics
