The British pre-decimal halfpenny 1/2 coin, usually simply known as a ha’penny was a unit of currency that equalled half of a penny or 1/480 of a pound sterling. King Edward I (1272–1307) introduced the halfpenny as part of his new penny coinage, which allowed trade to increase. As with all coins of this period, the denomination was not written on the coin, which was worth its weight in silver; thus a halfpenny was half the size and weight of the penny.