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1 Farthing - James I Harington issue, type 1b
| Issuer | England |
|---|---|
| Year | 1613-1614 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Round |
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| Obverse description | A crowned pair of crossed sceptres occupies the central field, with the royal crown serving as the primary design element. The privy mark consists of the central jewel on the crown, distinguishing this as type 1b of the Harington issue. A circular Latin legend surrounds the central device, reading continuously from the obverse to the reverse. The overall design is characteristic of the small, crudely struck copper farthings produced under royal licence during the reign of James I. |
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
James I had no royal authority to issue copper farthings — the Crown's prerogative extended only to gold and silver coinage. The solution was a private patent, granted in 1613 to John Harington of Kelston, whose father had been a favourite of Elizabeth I. Harington paid handsomely for the privilege and recouped his investment by selling the tokens to merchants at a profit over face value.
The type 1b designation distinguishes a specific die arrangement within the first Harington patent series, before the patent passed to Lord Maltravers in 1625.