The half farthing was a British coin worth 1⁄1920 of a pound, 1⁄96 of a shilling, or 1⁄8 of a penny. The coins were minted in copper for use in British Ceylon in various years between 1828 and 1856, and as a bronze proof coin in 1868. In 1842, they were also declared legal tender in the United Kingdom. Half farthings were demonetised along with all other British copper coins on 31 December 1869.
The Royal Mint first produced half farthings in 1828 for use in British Ceylon,[1] using dies by William Wyon.[2] The obverse of the coin bore a left-facing portrait of George IV, with the legend GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA and the date, while the reverse showed a seated Britannia with shield, facing right and holding a trident, with the inscription BRITANNIAR: REX FID: DEF:.[a] The coins were made of copper, weighed 2.4 grammes, and had a diameter of 18 millimetres.[3] The mint produced a second issue of George IV half farthings in 1830.[4]
The mint produced one issue of half farthings during the reign of William IV in 1837. The obverse bore a right-facing portrait of William IV by Wyon with the legend GULIELMUS IIII DEI GRATIA[b] and the date. The coins used the same reverse dies as the issues of George IV,[5] and were struck with the same size and weight standards.[6]
Wyon redesigned the half farthing for Queen Victoria's first issue in 1839. The obverse used the same dies as Wyon's Maundy fourpence, bearing a left-facing portrait of Queen Victoria and the legend VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIAR: REGINA F: D:.[c][7] The mint completely redesigned the reverse to avoid any resemblance between half farthings and the fourpence coins introduced in 1836 and issued for Ceylon in 1839.[7] The new reverse featured a royal crown above the words HALF FARTHING and the date. Below the date, the coins featured a heraldic rose with three leaves on either side.[8] The mint produced additional issues in 1842, 1843, 1844, 1847, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, and 1856,[8] all to the same size and weight standards as the issues of George IV and William IV,[9] but with the rose emblem changed to a joint rose, thistle, and shamrock.[7] The mint produced proof half farthings in bronze and copper-nickel in 1868, but no 1868 half farthings were issued for circulation.[8]
Half farthings were made legal tender in the United Kingdom on 13 June 1842.[7] Several letters to the editor in The Times criticised the proclamation.[7][10] All British copper coins, including half farthings, were demonetised on 31 December 1869.[1][7]
Notes
^In full, Georgius IV Dei Gratia Britanniarum Rex Fidei Defensor (George IV, King of the Britains, Defender of the Faith)
^In full, Gulielmus IV Dei Gratia Britanniarum Rex Fidei Defensor (William IV, King of the Britains, Defender of the Faith)
^In full, Victoria Dei Gratia Britanniarum Regina Fidei Defensor (Victoria, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith)
Peck, C. Wilson (1960). English Copper, Tin and Bronze Coins in the British Museum: 1558-1958. London: Trustees of the British Museum.
August 24, 2023
half, farthing, half, farthing, british, coin, worth, 1920, pound, shilling, penny, coins, were, minted, copper, british, ceylon, various, years, between, 1828, 1856, bronze, proof, coin, 1868, 1842, they, were, also, declared, legal, tender, united, kingdom, . The half farthing was a British coin worth 1 1920 of a pound 1 96 of a shilling or 1 8 of a penny The coins were minted in copper for use in British Ceylon in various years between 1828 and 1856 and as a bronze proof coin in 1868 In 1842 they were also declared legal tender in the United Kingdom Half farthings were demonetised along with all other British copper coins on 31 December 1869 One half farthingUnited KingdomValue 0 00052083 0 125dMass2 3 gDiameter18 0 mmEdgePlainComposition 1828 1856 copper 1868 bronzeYears of minting1828 1830 1837 1839 1842 1844 1847 1851 1854 1856 1868 proof only ObverseDesignProfile of the monarch Victoria design shown DesignerWilliam WyonDesign date1839ReverseDesignVarious Crown and rose thistle shamrock design shown Design date1842 Contents 1 History 2 Notes 3 References 3 1 SourcesHistory EditThe Royal Mint first produced half farthings in 1828 for use in British Ceylon 1 using dies by William Wyon 2 The obverse of the coin bore a left facing portrait of George IV with the legend GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA and the date while the reverse showed a seated Britannia with shield facing right and holding a trident with the inscription BRITANNIAR REX FID DEF a The coins were made of copper weighed 2 4 grammes and had a diameter of 18 millimetres 3 The mint produced a second issue of George IV half farthings in 1830 4 The mint produced one issue of half farthings during the reign of William IV in 1837 The obverse bore a right facing portrait of William IV by Wyon with the legend GULIELMUS IIII DEI GRATIA b and the date The coins used the same reverse dies as the issues of George IV 5 and were struck with the same size and weight standards 6 Wyon redesigned the half farthing for Queen Victoria s first issue in 1839 The obverse used the same dies as Wyon s Maundy fourpence bearing a left facing portrait of Queen Victoria and the legend VICTORIA D G BRITANNIAR REGINA F D c 7 The mint completely redesigned the reverse to avoid any resemblance between half farthings and the fourpence coins introduced in 1836 and issued for Ceylon in 1839 7 The new reverse featured a royal crown above the words HALF FARTHING and the date Below the date the coins featured a heraldic rose with three leaves on either side 8 The mint produced additional issues in 1842 1843 1844 1847 1851 1852 1853 1854 and 1856 8 all to the same size and weight standards as the issues of George IV and William IV 9 but with the rose emblem changed to a joint rose thistle and shamrock 7 The mint produced proof half farthings in bronze and copper nickel in 1868 but no 1868 half farthings were issued for circulation 8 Half farthings were made legal tender in the United Kingdom on 13 June 1842 7 Several letters to the editor in The Times criticised the proclamation 7 10 All British copper coins including half farthings were demonetised on 31 December 1869 1 7 Notes Edit In full Georgius IV Dei Gratia Britanniarum Rex Fidei Defensor George IV King of the Britains Defender of the Faith In full Gulielmus IV Dei Gratia Britanniarum Rex Fidei Defensor William IV King of the Britains Defender of the Faith In full Victoria Dei Gratia Britanniarum Regina Fidei Defensor Victoria Queen of the Britains Defender of the Faith References Edit Money portal Numismatics portal United Kingdom portal a b Fractional Farthings Royal Mint Museum Retrieved 1 May 2023 Peck 1960 p 397 Peck 1960 p 394 398 Peck 1960 p 398 Peck 1960 p 402 Peck 1960 p 400 a b c d e f Peck 1960 p 413 a b c Peck 1960 p 414 Peck 1960 p 403 Peck 1960 p 617 Sources Edit Peck C Wilson 1960 English Copper Tin and Bronze Coins in the British Museum 1558 1958 London Trustees of the British Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Half farthing amp oldid 1153402759, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
