1903 (Key Date) - Edward VII Half Crown (.925 Silver) KM# 802, Sp# 3980 (AVF)

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Seller: vicdavies ✉️ (2,272) 0%, Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, GB, Ships to: WORLDWIDE, Item: 232520350588 1903 (Key Date) - Edward VII Half Crown (.925 Silver) KM# 802, Sp# 3980 (AVF). 1903 (Key Date)   Edward VII Half Crown Country               United Kingdom  Mintage Years       1902-1910 Value               1/2 Crown (1/8 LSD) Metal               Silver (.925) Weight               14 g Diameter               32.3 mm Thickness       2.29 mm Shape               Round Orientation       Medal alignment ↑↑ Demonetized       1970 Issue                     709,652 Attribution        KM# 802, Sp# 3980 Obverse: Bare Head, right  EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX Engraver: George William de Saulles Reverse: Crowned and quartered shield within Garter band FID: DEF: IND: IMP: · HALF · 19 03 · CROWN · HONI SOIT · QUI MAL Y PENSE · Engraver: George William de Saulles Edge: Reeded Historical Notes: The Half Crown The half crown was a denomination of British money, equivalent to two shillings and sixpence, or one-eighth of a pound. It was first issued as an official (silver) denomination in 1549, in the reign of Edward VI. No half crowns were issued in the reign of Mary, but from the reign of Elizabeth I half crowns were issued in every reign except Edward VIII, until the coins were discontinued in 1967 (it was demonetised on 1 January 1970, the year before the United Kingdom adopted decimal currency). From George III, 1816, they had an (as-struck) diameter of 32 mm and a weight of 14.1 g, dimensions which remained the same until decimalisation. NB: The half crown did not display its value on the reverse until 1893.

King Edward VII (1901 - 1910)

Full Name: Albert Edward Born: November 9, 1841 at Buckingham Palace

Parents:  Queen Victoria and Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

Relation to Elizabeth II:  great-grandfather

House of:  Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

Ascended to the throne:  January 22, 1901 aged 59 years

Crowned:  August 9, 1902 at Westminster Abbey

Married:  Alexandra, daughter of Christian of Denmark

Children:  Three sons including George V, and three daughters

Died:  May 6, 1910 at Buckingham Palace, aged 68 years, 5 months, and 24 days

Buried at:  Windsor

Reigned for:  9 years, 3 months, and 12 days

Succeeded by:  his son George V

He was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and known to his family as ‘Bertie’. As Prince of Wales he did not meet his parent’s expectations of duty and during his mother’s long reign devoted himself to being self-indulgent. He was likeable, sociable and outgoing but became known as a playboy interested in horse racing, shooting, eating, drinking and other men’s wives.

In 1863 he married Alexandra of Denmark and the marriage was a reasonably happy producing 6 children. Alexandra tolerated his succession of mistresses who included Lille Langtry (actress), Lady Churchill (mother of Winston Churchill), Sarah Bernhardt (actress) and Alice Keppel (great-grandmother of Camilla wife of Charles the current Prince of Wales). Having mistresses was at the time not uncommon amongst the aristocracy, but his mother despaired of him and kept him away from taking an active part in politics even after Albert's death and she was elderly and retired to Balmoral and Osborne. In 1871 Edward survived a serious illness of typhoid which had killed his father. His eldest son Albert who was engaged to Mary of Teck died of pneumonia.

Edward was well received abroad and as heir-apparent toured India in 1875. When he finally became King Edward VII on the death of his mother in 1901, he frequently made trips to Europe including France where he contributed to the Anglo-French ‘Entente Cordiale’ signed in 1904, to Russia and the Triple Entente between Britain, Russia and France which a few years later would play an important role in affairs on the outbreak of World War I. He supported reform of the army following the Boer War, and Admiral Fisher’s expansion of the Royal Navy including building the new Dreadnought battleships.

The Edwardian period was seen as golden age for the upper class in Europe and America, but society was changing – socialism, women suffragettes, the Labour party and trade unions were becoming powerful and the founding of Britain’s Welfare State. ‘We are all socialists now’ he is reported to have remarked. In an increasing democratic society Edward saw the importance of displaying the mystique of pomp and circumstance of the monarchy, and seeing and being seen by the people. A role he and his successors took to well. He died of pneumonia at Buckingham Palace in 1910 and was succeeded by his second son George V.

King Edward VII's Signature

Quotes:

‘I never can, or shall, look at him without a shudder’ – Queen Victoria (who had a low opinion of her eldest son Edward) ‘Because a man has a black face and a different religion from our own, there is no reason why he should be treated as a brute.’ - Edward (complaining to his mother about British treatment of native Indians)   ‘We are all socialists now’ - King Edward VII (observing changes in society) ’I believe the emperor of Germany hates me’ - King Edward VII (on rising tensions with his nephew Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany).

  • Condition: Graded as AVF (NB: Grading is an inexact science, so please review photographs to make your own assessment).
  • Denomination: Half-Crown
  • Year of Issue: 1903
  • Era: Edward VII (1902-1910)
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom

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