The 1912 proof or specimen half penny was produced at the Heaton mint in Birmingham, as indicated by a H mintmark , as a proof of record example of the series. The Heaton in did this for the penny series in 1912, the shilling series in 1915 and the florin series in 1914 and 1915 but did not produce any threepence or sixpence.
The piece can be identified by even surfaces devoid of cartwheel lustre and while the original surfaces are mirror reflective, toning tends to conceal this rendering the coin a dull brown. There will be no discernible softness in strike and the rim beading should be even. The Heaton mint also produced 2.4 million business strike half pennies in 1912.