Medieval English Hammered Farthings - Edward VI

This online guide is designed to help

• Metal Detector enthusiasts
• Museum Curators
• Coin Dealers & Collectors

accurately identify and classify their English Hammered Farthings.

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Overview:

During the declining years of Henry VIII's reign and into the first few years of Edward VI's reign, the coinage had been significantly debased due to a financial crisis in the Royal treasury. At its worst, a thin silver coinage was produced, with a Shilling (12d) weighing only 40 grams. Had farthings been minted at this time they would have weighed a mere 0.8 grams

In August 1551 the crisis was addressed, resulting in a devaulation of the currency by 50%. As such, the debased halfpenny of Edward VI served as the 'de facto' farthing, although an official farthing was also produced. Currently there is only one known example of a Hammered Silver Farthings of Edward VI.

The light weight and small size of the silver farthing had made it inpractical to manufacture and use. This was the last reign in which hammered silver farthings were minted.

Queen Elizabeth I ordered the production of a new silver Three-farthings... but that's another story.

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Date: 1551-1553
Mint: London
Type: FINE SILVER ISSUE

Diameter: 9mm
Weight: 0.19g (3 grains¹)
Purity: 4 oz fine¹

Obverse: E D G ROSA SINE SPI around a Portcullis.
    Legend translated:
        Edward by the Grace of God, a Rose without a thorn

Reverse: CIVITAS LONDON
    "Long Cross" pattee with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  S.2487A (formerly 2477)
  N.1948 (though mis-classified as such)
Notes:
  An interesting coin. Originally attributed (by North and Seaby) as a
  "Third Period - Very Base Silver" issue of 1551, it has recently been
  reclassified as one of the "Third Period - Fine Silver" issue of
  1551-1553. The only know example is in the British Museum.

Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £700 (Fine)
  £1650 (Very Fine)

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HALFPENCE that were used as FARTHINGS

• These "Base Issue" halfpence had so little silver in them that they were only ever used as farthings.
  
  

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Date: 1551
Mint: London
Type: BASE ISSUE

Weight: 0.37g
Obverse: Initial mintmark of a Scallop followed by:
    E D G ROSA SINE SPI around a Rose.
    Legend translated:
        Edward by the Grace of God, a Rose without a thorn

Reverse: CIVITAS LONDON
    "Long Cross" pattee over the English Coat of Arms.

Reference(s):
  S.2476
  N.1947
  W.2a
Notes:
  An interesting coin. Struck in very base silver - so little silver that this
  "halfpence" was used as a farthing.

Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £350 (Fine)
  £800 (Very Fine)

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¹ SEABY, BA. (ed) 1948: Notes on English Silver Coins 1066-1648 to help
  collectors in their classification (London, Seaby). pp 87

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