Scarce CirculationYear: 1905Half Crown

Sell 1905 Edward VII Silver Half Crown

1905 Edward VII silver half crown: lowest 20th-century mintage (166,008). Values £200–£6,000+ by grade. Authenticate with weight, diameter, edge checks.

Circulated Market Guide

£200 – £500

Typical UK collector & dealer range for circulated examples

Uncirculated / Graded

£800–2,000 (BU); £3,000+ (MS-65); auction record £13,500 (Baldwin's)

Mintage

166,008

Weight

14.14g

Composition

.925 sterling silver (92.5% silver, 7.5% copper)

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Market Valuation & Pricing Notes

Lowest mintage of any 20th-century silver half crown. Worn examples (Fine–VF) typically realise £200–500. Uncirculated (BU) examples command £800–2,000; gem MS-65+ examples exceed £3,000. The record realised price is £13,500 for a superb slabbed specimen at Baldwin's of St. James's. Silver melt value (~13.05 g Ag) provides a floor of ~£10–12. Collector demand is driven by the key-date status within the Edwardian series.

Physical Authentication Checkpoints

Our specialists verify these exact specifications when appraising your 1905 Edward VII Silver Half Crown:

Weight: 14.14 g (±0.15 g tolerance)
Diameter: 32.0 mm (32.3 mm per some references)
Edge: Milled / reeded
Obverse: Bare-head portrait of Edward VII by George William de Saulles, legend 'EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:'
Reverse: Crowned quartered shield of arms within Garter by de Saulles, legend 'HALF CROWN 1905'
Specific gravity: ~10.4 g/cm³ for .925 sterling silver
No mint mark (London Mint only for this denomination/year)

Coin Specifications

Catalogue ID: GB-1905-HC-EDW7-SILV
Denomination: Half Crown
Issue Year: 1905
Rarity Tier: Scarce Circulation
Mintage: 166,008
Weight: 14.14 grams
Metal Composition: .925 sterling silver (92.5% silver, 7.5% copper)

Common Fakes & Variant Confusion

Cast counterfeits occasionally appear; they show pitted surfaces, incorrect weight (often light), and weak edge reeding. Altered-date fakes from 1903/1906 are rare but possible—check date digit shape under magnification. 1902 matt proof half crowns (mintage 15,123) are a separate issue; they have a sandblasted matt finish and were only issued in the Coronation proof set. Circulation-strike 1905 half crowns are never matt proof.