The Half Laurel was the third British gold coin with a value of ten shillings produced during the reign of King James I. It was named after the laurel that the king is portrayed as wearing on his head, but it is considerably poorer in both quality and style than the half sovereign and double crown which preceded it. The coin was produced during James I's third coinage (1619-1625). All the coins were produced at the Tower Mint in London.
The half laurel was introduced to replace the "double crown" of 1604, which had an initial value of ten shillings but which had been increased to eleven shillings in 1612 because of the increasing value of gold; there was a need to return to having a coin in circulation worth ten shillings.
The King is looking to the left of the coin and has the value "X" to the right, behind the kings' head. The legend on the obverse reads IACOBUS D G MAG BRI FRA ET HIB REX -- James by the grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland. The reverse shows a long cross over a crowned shield which shows the arms of the four countries, and the legend HENRIC ROSAS REGNA IACOBUS -- Henry united the roses, James the kingdoms.
The halflaurel was a British coin minted between 1619 and 1625, with a value of ten shillings (half a pound, or laurel).
The halflaurel was the third British gold coin with a value of ten shillings produced during the reign of King James I.
The halflaurel was introduced to replace the double crown of 1604, which had an initial value of ten shillings but whose value had been increased to eleven shillings in 1612 because of the increasing value of gold; the need was felt for a ten-shilling coin in circulation again.
The English penny was derived from a silver coin (the sceat of 20 grains weight) which was in general circulation in Europe during the Middle Ages.
In 1920, the silver content of all British coins was reduced from 92.5% to 50%, with a portion of the remainder consisting of manganese, which caused the coins to tarnish to a very dark colour after they had been in circulation for a significant period.
The weight of this coin was instituted by Charlemagne, and the purity of 92.5% silver (i.e., sterling silver) was instituted by Henry II in 1158 with the "Tealby Penny"—a hammered coin.
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