half-crowner, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

half-crowner n.

[SE half-a-crown, in pre-decimal coinage 2s 6d (12½p)]

1. any publication costing 2s 6d.

1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues 250/1: Half-crowner, a publication costing 2s. 6d.
1902		H. Baumann Londinismen (2nd edn).

2. one who pays half-a-crown for a seat at a show.

1890		G.B. Shaw London Music 1888–89 (1938) 288: The half-crowners energetically cried ‘Hear, hear’; and the ladies stood up to see this gentleman .
1959		New Statesman 25 July 106/2: One can watch the half-crowners filing [...] before the country-house displays of things properly designed and well made .