1 Farthing - John Short Cross type, class 5b

Class 5b sits within the Short Cross coinage introduced under Henry II in 1180 and continued — without alteration to the royal portrait — through the reigns of Richard I, John, and into Henry III. The deliberate suppression of the king's name was likely a cost-saving and administrative convenience, though it also meant coins of three reigns circulated interchangeably. Farthings of this type were produced by physically cutting pennies into quarters, then later by striking purpose-made pieces; the 5b classification distinguishes specific letter forms used to attribute dies to particular moneyers and mints.