Medieval English Hammered Farthings - Henry IV

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:

In order to increase the royal treasury, the weight of the silver coinage was reduced in 1412.

This resulted in two types of farthings for the reign: the early "heavy" issue and the later "light" issue.

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Date: 1399-1412
Mint: London
Type: HEAVY COINAGE

Diameter: 9-11mm
Weight: 0.3 g (4½grains¹)

Obverse: +hEnRIC:REX.AnGL'

Face as Richard II, but crown altered. With evidence of a neck.

Reverse: CIVITAS LOnDOn

"Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  S.1725
  N.1354
  W. HIV Type 1
Scarcity: ??

Guide Price:
  £500 (Fine)
  £975(Very Fine)

Sold by:

• An example of this coin (from the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge) is in Withers: Small Change III.

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Date: 1412-1413
Mint: London
Type: LIGHT COINAGE

Diameter: 9-11
Weight: 0.25 g (3¾grains¹)

Obverse: +hEnRIC REX+AnGL'

Flat bottom crown, face without a bust and possibly a lis or trefoil after REX

Reverse: CIVITAS LOIDOI

"Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  S.1738
  N.1368
  W. HIV Type 1
Scarcity: Unique

Guide Price:
  £500 (Fine)
  £975(Very Fine)

Sold by:

• An example of this coin (from the collection of Tim Webb Ware) is in Withers: Small Change III.

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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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