Farthing (British coin)

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This article is about the bronze coin minted between 1860 and 1956. For the earlier history of the farthing, see History of the farthing.
One farthing
United Kingdom
Value  1960 pound sterling
Mass 2.83 g
Diameter 20.19 mm
Edge Plain
Composition Bronze
Years of minting 1860–1956
British farthing 1951 obverse.png
Design Profile of the monarch (George VI design shown)
Designer Thomas Humphrey Paget
Design date 1937
British farthing 1951 reverse.png
Design Wren (Britannia on earlier mintages)
Designer Thomas Humphrey Paget
Design date 1937

The British farthing (¼d) coin, from "fourthing," was a unit of currency of one quarter of a penny. It was minted in bronze, and replaced the earlier copper farthings. It was used during the reign of six monarchs: Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI and Elizabeth II, ceasing to be legal tender in 1960. It featured two different designs on its reverse during its one hundred years in circulation. From 1860 until 1936 the image of Britannia, and from 1937 onwards the image of a wren. Like all British coinage, it bore the portrait of the monarch on the obverse.[1]

Before Decimal Day in 1971 there were two hundred and forty pennies in one pound sterling. There were four farthings in a penny. Twelve pennies made a shilling, and twenty shillings made a pound. Values less than a pound were usually written in terms of shillings and pence, e.g. three shillings and six pence (3/6), pronounced "three and six" or "three and sixpence". Values of less than a shilling were simply written in terms of pennies, e.g. eight pennies would be 8d, pronounced "eightpence." A price with a farthing in it would be written like this: (19/11¼), pronounced "nineteen and elevenpence farthing".


Original reverse: 1860-1936

The original reverse of the coin, designed by Leonard Charles Wyon, is a seated Britannia, holding a trident, with the word FARTHING above. Issues before 1895 also feature a lighthouse to Britannia's left and a ship to her right. Various minor adjustments to the level of the sea depicted around Britannia, and the angle of her trident were also made over the years. Some issues feature toothed edges, while others feature beading.

Over the years, seven different obverses were used. Edward VII, George V, George VI and Elizabeth II each had a single obverse for farthings produced during their respective reigns. Over the long reign of Queen Victoria two different obverses were used, and the short reign of Edward VIII meant no farthings bearing his likeness were ever issued.

The farthing was first issued with the so-called "bun head", or "draped bust" of Queen Victoria on the obverse. The inscription around the bust read VICTORIA D G BRITT REG F D. This was replaced in 1895 by the "old head", or "veiled bust". The inscription on these coins read VICTORIA DEI GRA BRITT REGINA FID DEF IND IMP.



The pattern coin of Edward VIII and regular issue farthings of George VI and Elizabeth II feature a redesigned reverse displaying the wren, one of Britain's smallest birds.

George VI issue coins feature the inscription GEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN REX F D IND IMP before 1949, and GEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN REX FIDEI DEF thereafter. Unlike the penny, farthings were minted throughout the early reign of Elizabeth II, bearing the inscription the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRA BRITT OMN REGINA F D in 1953, and ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F D thereafter.




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