Farthing

From Marteau

england-farthing-1685.jpg

A rare James II tin Farthing, 1685 (Peck 550) with dots either side of date on edge. Central copper plug original.

History

First farthings seem to have been produced as silver coins under Henry III (1216-1272), the production became regular under Edward I (1271-1307) and continued into the reign of Edward VI (1547-1553), when the production of the silver coin was suspended paying tribute to the lack of popularity it now suffered. New larger farthings, not so easily lost, came to be minted under James I in copper, and occasionally tin, the production was suspended during the Commonwealth and began again in 1672 to continue now till 1754 with new milled copper coins of an average 22 mm diameter and 89 grains or 5.7672 g in weight.

See also Money (Great Britain)




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