Coins of England and Great Britain
by Tony Clayton
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Coins of England and Great Britainby Tony Clayton |
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The Halfpenny <<-- : -->> The Penny
Values of Three Farthings
No pictures available
Amazingly, coins worth three-quarters of a penny were issued, but only back in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I between 1561 and 1582.
They are still uncommon, but not as rare as once thought due to discovery by metal detectors.
They are about 14mm diameter, and have an obverse legend of E.D.G.ROSA SINE SPINA, which stands for 'Elizabeth by the Grace of God a Rose without a Thorn'.
At the time coins of 6d, 3d, three halfpence and three farthings were minted, each half of the previous denomination. The latter three coins were distinguished from the groat, half-groat and penny by the presence of a rose behind the Queen's head. The three-farthings is rather a thin coin, and Shakespeare in King John (I,i,143) quotes:
..my face so thin,
That in mine ear I durst not stick a rose,
Lest men should say, "Look, where three-farthings goes!"
An extremely rare milled issue was made in 1563. According to Coincraft's catalogue only three specimens are known to exist.
See my Main Coins Index page for acknowledgements
Values Index.
Values of Three Farthings.
Main Index.
Previous page - The Halfpenny
Next page - The Penny
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