Third farthing (British coin)

Third farthing (British coin)

The third farthing British coin (frac|12 of a penny, frac|2880 of a pound) was produced in various years between 1827 and 1913.

The coin was produced in 1827 exclusively for use in Malta, but it is considered to be part of the British coinage as at that time Malta was considered more as a part of Britain than in the twentieth century. The Farthing coin was already in circulation in Malta, as a 3 grani coin, and the third farthing was introduced as 1 grano. A proclamation issued in Malta on 3 November 1827 legalised the new coins, referring to them as "British Grains". The cost of living in Malta was lower than in Britain, and it was not considered appropriate to introduce them in Britain.

The obverse of the 1827 coin bears the left-facing portrait of King George IV, with the inscription GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA 1827 while the reverse shows a seated Britannia with shield, facing right and holding a trident, with the inscription BRITANNIAR REX FID DEF. There was no indication of its value. The coin was made of copper, weighed 1.5 to 1.6 grams, and had a diameter of 16 millimetres.

In 1835, in the reign of King William IV there was another issue, also of copper, 16 millimetres in diameter, and weighing 1.5 to 1.6 grams. The obverse of this coin bears the right-facing portrait of William IV with the inscription GULIELMUS IIII DEI GRATIA 1835, and the same reverse as before.

Comparatively few coins were needed for Malta in the reign of Queen Victoria, so copper third farthings were only minted in 1844, to the same physical standards as before -- the obverse shows a left-facing portrait of Victoria inscribed VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1844 and the reverse shows the seated Britannia with the inscription BRITANNIAR REG FID DEF.

By the time a further mintage of the denomination was needed, in 1866, the coins were made of bronze, and were only 15 millimetres in diameter, weighing between 0.9 and 1.0 gram. The inscription around the Queen's head this time was VICTORIA D G BRITT REG F D, while the design of the reverse contained a crown over the words ONE THIRD FARTHING date within a wreath. The issue was repeated in 1868, 1876, 1878, 1881, 1884, and 1885.

At the start of the reign of King Edward VII,in 1902 a further £100 worth of the denomination (i.e. 288,000 coins) was produced, to the same standards and reverse design as before. The obverse shown the right-facing head of King Edward VII and the inscription EDWARDVS VII D G BRITT OMN REX F D IND IMP.

In 1913 a final issue of £100 worth of coins was made, bearing the left facing head of King George V with the inscription GEORGIVS V D G BRITT OMN REX F D IND IMP on the obverse, and the same reverse design, size and weight as before.

For other denominations, see British coinage.

External links

* [http://www.coinsgb.com British Coins] - Free information about British coins. Includes an online forum.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Farthing (British coin) — A farthing (meaning fourth part ) was a British coin worth one quarter of a penny and 1/960 of a pound sterling, slightly over a mill division in other currencies. Such coins were first minted in England in the 13th century, and continued to be… …   Wikipedia

  • Quarter farthing (British coin) — The quarter farthing was a British coin, produced for circulation in Ceylon in various years between 1839 and 1853 (although proof coins were anomalously produced in 1868). It is the lowest denomination of coin ever minted for the United Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • One pound (British coin) — This article is about the circulating one pound coin issued since 1983. For earlier coins worth one pound, see Sovereign (British coin), Broad (British coin), Laurel (English coin), and Unite (English coin). One pound United Kingdom Value 1 pound …   Wikipedia

  • Double florin (British coin) — Double florin of 1887 The Double Florin (4/ )[1] was one of the shortest lived British coin denominations ever, only being produced during 4 mint years, between 1887 and 1890. The silver coin weighed 22.6 grams (0.80 oz) and was 36… …   Wikipedia

  • Crown (British coin) — This article is about the British coin. For other coins called Crown , see Crown. Henry VIII HENRIC VIII RVTILANS ROSA SINE SPIA , crowned double rose flanked by crowned H and K (Henry and Katherine of Aragon); saltire stops …   Wikipedia

  • Shilling (British coin) — In the United Kingdom, a shilling was a coin used from the reign of Henry VII until decimalisation in 1971. Before decimalisation there were twenty shillings to the pound and twelve pence to the shilling, and thus 240 pence to the pound. At… …   Wikipedia

  • Penny (British decimal coin) — For the pre decimal British one penny coin, see Penny (British pre decimal coin). For silver pennies produced after 1820, see Maundy money. One penny United Kingdom Value 1 penny sterling Mass  3.56 g Diameter  20.32 mm …   Wikipedia

  • List of British bank notes and coins — List of British bank notes and coins, with commonly used terms.CoinsPre decimalPrior to decimalisation in 1971, there were 12 pence (written as 12d) in a shilling (written as 1s or 1/ ) and 20 shillings in a pound, written as £1 (occasionally L… …   Wikipedia

  • Penny (British pre-decimal coin) — For the historic penny of England, see Penny (English coin). For the British penny in current usage, see Penny (British decimal coin). For silver pennies produced after 1820, see Maundy money. One Old Penny United Kingdom Value 1 Penny …   Wikipedia

  • History of the British penny (1714–1901) — The Hanoverians (1714 ndash;1837) The change in dynasty did not affect the form of the design of the silver penny mdash; a 12 mm diameter coin weighing 0.5 gram, with a right facing bust of George I and the inscription GEORGIVS DEI GRA continuing …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”