The British decimal half penny (½p) and also written halfpenny or half pence) was first issued on 15 February 1971, the day the British currency was decimalised. In practice it had been available from banks in bags for some weeks previously. The half penny coin was minted in bronze. It was the smallest decimal coin by both size and value, weighing 1.78 grams and measuring 17.14 millimetres in diameter. It was nicknamed the "tiddler" on account of its size, and soon became Britain's least loved coin.