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Farthing
Farthings first came into production during the reign of Charles II in 1672 due to a considerable shortage of coins of low denomination. It is always a sign that coins of a certain denomination are needed when tradesmen issue private tokens bearing that denomination, and the well-known tokens of 1660 are a clear indication of the need for the coin.
An extensive series of pattern farthings was struck from the beginning of the reign, but it was not until 1672 that farthings were struck for circulation. The Royal Proclamation of 1672 authorised the striking of farthings and half pennies with legal tender status up to a total of sixpence, but the issue of half pennies was delayed. The Farthing thus became the first of the long series of base metal ‘Britannia’ coinage which was to last almost exactly 300 years.
Like the half penny, the design of the Farthing would also change during George VI’s reign. The design adopted for the reverse was that of a wren, which had been proposed for the reverse of the Edward VIII Farthing. The coin was struck for every year of the reign but, unlike the half penny, it did not undergo minute differences of design from year to year.
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Charles II Farthing Fine
Charles II was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1660 until 1685. His Restoration to the monarchy after Richard Cromwell renounced his role as Lord Protector in 1659, was a time of great cultural and political change. His reign was also marked by the Great Plague, the Great Fire of London, and political tensions with Parliament. Charles II copper farthings were issued between 1672 and 1679. They were the first official copper coins of England and also the first to feature Britannia on the reverse. Britannia was first seen on Roman coins, where she personified the British Isles. The image symbolises Britain’s naval power and imperial identity and is still seen on coins today. We have on offer farthings of Charles II for the first time in Fine grade. A fascinating coin – at least 345 years old and survived the Great Plague and the Fire of London!
£59.50
Charles II Farthing Very Good
Charles II was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1660 until 1685. His Restoration to the monarchy after Richard Cromwell renounced his role as Lord Protector in 1659, was a time of great cultural and political change. His reign was also marked by the Great Plague, the Great Fire of London, and political tensions with Parliament. Charles II copper farthings were issued between 1672 and 1679. They were the first official copper coins of England and also the first to feature Britannia on the reverse. Britannia was first seen on Roman coins, where she personified the British Isles. The image symbolises Britain’s naval power and imperial identity and is still seen on coins today. We have on offer of farthings of Charles II in VG. A fascinating coin – at least 345 years old and survived the Great Plague and the Fire of London!
£45.00
Edward I, Farthing Fine
The farthing marked the start of a revolutionary coinage reform by Edward I. Until this time, the penny was the smallest denomination. Low value transactions could be conducted using pennies cut into halves or quarters. The act of cutting pennies into quarters or fourths was how the word Farthing or “fourthing” came about. These silver farthings were introduced by Edward I during the recoinage of 1279. They brought about the end of the practice of cutting coins into halves and quarters. The old coinage and the use of pennies cut into farthings remained legal tender until they were demonitised in August 1280. These coins were the smallest silver coins of the early medieval period and were well circulated and are now over 700 years old, and they are much scarcer than the Pennies. We have been putting these aside for many years and are delighted to offer them to you now, for the first time. Available in Fine, while stocks last.
£99.50
Edward VII Farthings by Date
During the reign of King Edward VII, the smallest denomination that was regularly struck for circulation was the bronze Farthing. Many of the dates are difficult to get and all the coins listed are in Fine condition. But supplies are very limited.
From £4.95
Edward VII, Farthing 1905 Fine
In 1905 King Edward VII was on the throne, finally having taken over from his late mother, Queen Victoria. Arthur Balfour is Prime Minister and Chelsea has just been elected to the Football League. The GPO had just gotten rid of horse-drawn carriages to deliver the mail from London to Brighton and replaced them with Motor Lorries. The 1st public protest by a suffragette took place and Alf Common became the first £1000 football transfer. The Farthing was the smallest denomination regularly issued. You had the King’s bare head on one side and a seated Britannia on the other side. We can offer you the King Edward VII Farthing in Fine condition for your collection.
£5.95
Elizabeth II, Farthing 1953 Brilliant Unc
In 1953 the Royal Mint issued new coins for the new Queen, Elizabeth II. But the legend was different from all the coins that were to come, so that the 1953 coins and the Farthing in particular are one year type coins. This is important because there were only 4 dates of Elizabeth II Farthings ever issued, 1956 being the last date of issue. Because the 1953 Coronation Farthing is a one year type, it is also the most difficult one to get in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. We bought a group that had been put away in 1953, some 65 years ago and had lain undisturbed until now. Add a one year type, 1953 Coronation Farthing in Brilliant Uncirculated to your collection, they are not easy to get.
£8.95
Elizabeth II, Farthing 1953 Uncirculated
In 1953 the Royal Mint issued new coins for the new Queen, Elizabeth II. But the legend was different from all the coins that were to come, so that the 1953 coins and the Farthing, in particular, are one-year type coins. This is important because there were only 4 dates of Elizabeth II Farthings ever issued, 1956 being the last date of issue. Because the 1953 Coronation Farthing is a one year type, it is difficult one to get in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. We bought a group that had been put away in 1953, some 68 years ago, and had lain undisturbed until now. Add a one-year type, 1953 Coronation Farthing in Brilliant Uncirculated to your collection, they are not easy to get.
£4.95
Elizabeth II, Farthing 1954 Brilliant Unc
Elizabeth II, Farthing dated 1954 in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.
£7.95
Elizabeth II, Farthing 1955 Brilliant Unc
The 1955 Wren Farthing was the penultimate, or the next to last Farthing to ever be struck. In 1956 the last ever Farthing was struck. For some reason, this penultimate Farthing is rather difficult to find in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. You have the youthful bust of Queen Elizabeth II on one side, remember that she only came to the throne in 1952, and on the other side you have a beautiful little wren. The coins on offer are in Brilliant Uncirculated condition and are now some 63 years old. For those of you too young to remember, there were 240 Pennies to the Pound and 4 Farthings to the Penny. So that a pound’s worth of Farthings would have been 960 coins. Don’t we wish we had the money and had put them away at the time?
£7.95
Elizabeth II, Farthing 1956 Brilliant Uncirculated
In 1956 the Royal Mint issued the last Farthing ever! We're guessing that it was too low of a denomination to be of any use. We have a nice small group of Brilliant Uncirculated 1956 Queen Elizabeth II Farthings. These are the last Farthing to ever be struck. The Mint didn’t make a lot of them and they are the most difficult date of Queen Elizabeth II to find. Get them while you can, remember there were 4 to a Penny and 960 to the pound. These are now 63 years old and in Brilliant Uncirculated condition.
£14.50
Elizabeth II, Farthing 1956 Uncirculated
The first Farthing was issued during the reign of King Edward I 1272-1307 and it was struck in Silver. The last ever Farthing was struck in 1956 under Queen Elizabeth II and was struck in bronze. In fact, there were only four farthings issued under Queen Elizabeth II. The 1956 Farthing is the most difficult of the four dates to get. It has the Queen on the obverse and the wren on the reverse. Demand of late has increased and so has the cost of buying them. Lucky that we had some in stock so we can keep our prices more reasonable. We have them in two grades Uncirculated with touches of lustre and Brilliant Uncirculated in either case they are the last Farthing ever to be issued and an important coin worthy of your collection.
£10.95
George II, Farthing (Old Head) Fine
King George II ruled from 1727 until 1760. During that time they issued two different busts of the King. They are known as the Young Head and the Old Head, but don’t tell the King that. The smallest denomination issued for this Monarch was the Farthing, 4 farthings to the penny and 240 pennies to the Pound. These Old Head coins are almost 300 years old and are in Fine condition, being the smallest denomination they saw considerable circulation and usage. Dates will be of our choice, but the more you order the more different dates we will try and give you.
£39.50
George II, Farthing (Old Head) VG
King George II ruled from 1727 until 1760. During that time they issued two different busts of the King. They are known as the Young Head bust and the Old Head bust, offered here, but don’t tell the King that. The smallest denomination issued for this Monarch was the Farthing, 4 farthings to the penny and 240 pennies to the Pound. These coins are almost 300 years old and are in Very Good condition, being the smallest denomination they saw considerable circulation and usage. Dates will be of our choice, but the more you order the more different dates we will try and give you.
£27.50
George II, Farthing (Young Head)
King George II ruled from1727-1760, his young head bust was used on the copper farthings from 1730-1739. His bust is facing left on the obverse and Britannia is seated on the reverse. It is the smallest coin struck at the time, i.e. the lowest value and thus well circulated and used. We can offer this as a type coin, dates of our choice, in two different grades. Fair which is very worn but then again they are almost 300 years old and Fine with much more details show and to be honest a much nicer coin.
George IV, Farthing, 1822 Laureate Head, Choice Uncirculated
They feature the first Laureate Head of the King and are 200 years old, give or take. They are beautiful for their age, some retaining their original mint lustre. Very difficult to find and only limited numbers available. Never before been offered as a feature.
£150.00
George IV, Farthing, Laureate Head, 1821, Fine
King George IV had a very short reign 1820-1830. The smallest denomination made for every day usage was the Farthing. Struck in copper it had the King’s head in a laurel wreath with Britannia seated wearing a helmet on the reverse. This was the fi rst type of Farthing struck under George IV and the coins feature his first Laureate head.
£22.50
George IV, Farthing, Laureate Head, 1822, Fine
King George IV had a very short reign 1820-1830. The smallest denomination made for every day usage was the Farthing. Struck in copper it had the King’s head in a laurel wreath with Britannia seated wearing a helmet on the reverse. This was the fi rst type of Farthing struck under George IV and the coins feature his first Laureate head.
£22.50
George IV, Farthing, Laureate Head, 1823, Fine
King George IV had a very short reign 1820-1830. The smallest denomination made for every day usage was the Farthing. Struck in copper it had the King’s head in a laurel wreath with Britannia seated wearing a helmet on the reverse. This was the fi rst type of Farthing struck under George IV and the coins feature his first Laureate head.
£22.50
George V Farthing date set 1911-36
It has been some time since we have last been able to offer the complete date collection of King George V Farthings for sale. These are the lowest denomination bronze coin that was regularly struck during his reign. They go from the Coronation issue of 1911 until the year of his death 1936. All coins are in Fine or better condition and it is most difficult to put this collection together today.
£39.50
George V, 10 Farthings Fine or Better
We recently bought three bags of King George V Farthings. They are all struck between 1911 and 1936, but we have not sorted them by date, they will be just as they come out of the sacks. Having glanced through a bag of these George V farthings the coins are in Fine or better condition. Richard didn’t look at the coins for dates, so we will sell them as they come. We will ask one of the staff who has little knowledge of British coins to just count them out. They came from a dealer who has been in coins for over 50 years and is now retiring. Here we are offering them as they come out of a sack, 10 pieces for £15.00.
£8.95
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