Mary H. asks: Hi, What is a ha-penny and where did it originate? What is the oldest one and what is it worth? What years were they made and by who? Thank you for taking the time to read and answer my questions. Mary
The English money system was heavily influenced by Ancient Roman and grew into an non-decimal, multi-tiered currency. The base unit was the Penny (240 to an English Pound) which had fractional units of 2 half-pennies or 4 farthings. The modern half-penny survived from 1672-1967, but the denomination can be found in English History as early as c. 890 AD. Â Half-penny was colloquially written as ha’penny and pronounced HAY-pÉ™-
