half pennies stopped being legal tender in december 1984.
half pennies stopped being legal tender in december 1984.
when did half pennies stop being legal tender?
december 1984
until 31 december 1984, the bank of england issued one pound notes, and these notes did have legal tender status in scotland and northern ireland while they existed. the currency and bank notes act 1954 defined bank of england notes of less than £5 in value as legal tender in scotland. since the english £1 note was removed from circulation in 1988, this leaves a legal curiosity in scots law whereby there is no paper legal tender in scotland. the uk treasury has proposed extending legal tender status to scottish banknotes. the proposal has been opposed by scottish nationalists who claim it would reduce the independence of the scottish banking sector.
banknotes of the pound sterling
throughout the united kingdom, coins valued 1 pound, 2 pounds, and 5 pounds sterling are legal tender in unlimited amounts. twenty pence pieces and fifty pence pieces are legal tender in amounts up to 10 pounds; five pence pieces and ten pence pieces are legal tender in amounts up to 5 pounds; and pennies and two pence coins are legal tender in amounts up to 20 pence. in accordance with the coinage act 1971, gold sovereigns are also legal tender for any amount. although it is not specifically mentioned on them, the face values of gold coins are 50p; £1; £2; and £5, a mere fraction of their worth as bullion. five pound coins, although legal tender, are intended as souvenirs and are almost never seen in circulation.
legal tender