1 Farthing - Henry VIII 1st coinage, London mint

Henry VIII's first coinage continued the monetary conventions inherited directly from his father, maintaining the same weight standards and silver fineness established under Henry VII. Farthings of this period were struck in such small quantities — the denomination was already economically marginal by the early sixteenth century — that survival into the present is genuinely rare. Most circulated hard and fast in small transactions before disappearing into wear or loss.

At 0.21g, these pieces were among the lightest silver coins produced by the English crown, making clean strikes difficult even under ideal hammer conditions.