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1 Farthing - Charles II
| Issuer | England |
|---|---|
| Year | 1684-1685 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Farthing (1⁄960) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
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| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The allegorical figure of Britannia is depicted seated facing left, holding a long spear upright in her left hand and an olive branch in her right, with a shield bearing the Union flag resting to her left. The design, also by John Roettier, established the enduring type for British coinage. The encircling Latin legend BRITAN NIA· frames the figure, with the date impressed into the coin's edge rather than appearing on the reverse face. The composition is bold and symbolic, representing British maritime sovereignty and peace. |
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| Edge | Log in to see details |
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| Additional information |
The tin farthing was introduced by royal proclamation in 1684 as a deliberate measure against counterfeiting, which had plagued the earlier copper issues so badly that private tokens had filled much of the gap in small change. Tin was chosen partly because its appearance was harder to fake convincingly, and partly because politically connected tin-mining interests in Cornwall lobbied effectively for the contract. The copper plug at center was a legal requirement — tin alone was not considered sufficiently "intrinsick" in value to satisfy Parliament.
Charles II died in February 1685, making this one of the shortest-lived type transitions in the series. Most survivors show the edge inscription already beginning to degrade — tin corrodes aggressively, and even lightly circulated pieces frequently show the characteristic dark gray oxidation and surface flaking the alloy is prone to.