A Brief Guide to Farthing Tokens of James I & Charles I by ... Tokens.pdf · A Brief Guide to...
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1 A Brief Guide to Farthing Tokens of James I & Charles I by Colin Goode Due to the high demand for low denomination transactions, farthing tokens were introduced under the Reign of James I, due to the rise in silver prices making the sizes of silver farthings with intrinsic values impractical. Patents were issued which entitled the holder to a monopoly on the production of the farthings. The majority of the types took their names from one of the patent holders Harington Farthings – John/Lady Anne Harington – Baron of Exton Lennox Farthings – Duke of Lennox Richmond Farthings – Duchess of Richmond Maltravers Farthings – Lord Maltravers Irish Ovals – Produced for use in Ireland on oval flans Rose Farthings – Took their name from the rose style design There is a common misconception that all of these farthing tokens were intended for use in Ireland due to the harp design on the reverse, but the two sceptres and crown on the obverse were used to represent England and Scotland. As can be seen below there is a wide array of legend and privy mark combinations, which results in hundreds of varieties some of which are highly collectable. Counterfeiting of the series is extensive despite various attempts to prevent it, some of which are very crude and obvious. Today this is perceived as a surprising occurrence given the low value of the coinage. Anyone interested in this series of coinage and its varieties should obtain “The Galata Guide to the Farthing Tokens of James I & Charles I” by Tim Everson which is a comprehensive catalogue of the may varieties, with a substantial write up on the history of the series. Should anyone have any queries in relation to coins they have found, and want further advice, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] Click to buy NOW! P D F - X C h a n g e w w w . d o c u - t r a c k . c o m Click to buy NOW! P D F - X C h a n g e w w w . d o c u - t r a c k . c o m
Transcript of A Brief Guide to Farthing Tokens of James I & Charles I by ... Tokens.pdf · A Brief Guide to...
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A Brief Guide to Farthing Tokens of James I & Charles I by Colin Goode
Due to the high demand for low denomination transactions, farthing tokens were introduced under the Reign of James I, due to the rise in silver prices making the sizes of silver farthings with intrinsic values impractical. Patents were issued which entitled the holder to a monopoly on the production of the farthings. The majority of the types took their names from one of the patent holders Harington Farthings – John/Lady Anne Harington – Baron of Exton Lennox Farthings – Duke of Lennox Richmond Farthings – Duchess of Richmond Maltravers Farthings – Lord Maltravers Irish Ovals – Produced for use in Ireland on oval flans Rose Farthings – Took their name from the rose style design There is a common misconception that all of these farthing tokens were intended for use in Ireland due to the harp design on the reverse, but the two sceptres and crown on the obverse were used to represent England and Scotland. As can be seen below there is a wide array of legend and privy mark combinations, which results in hundreds of varieties some of which are highly collectable. Counterfeiting of the series is extensive despite various attempts to prevent it, some of which are very crude and obvious. Today this is perceived as a surprising occurrence given the low value of the coinage. Anyone interested in this series of coinage and its varieties should obtain “The Galata Guide to the Farthing Tokens of James I & Charles I” by Tim Everson which is a comprehensive catalogue of the may varieties, with a substantial write up on the history of the series. Should anyone have any queries in relation to coins they have found, and want further advice, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]
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The farthing tokens can be found in 6 distinct types, with a variety of Privy Marks which were used to try and prevent counterfeiting. They include: Letters – Found on only Haringtons
Millrind Pellet Ermine Trefoil Tun
Cinquefoil Cross Saltire Lis Martlet Portcullis
Flower Fusil Lombardic A Annulet Billet
Mullet Tower Cross Flory Fiche Cross Patee Fourchee Fish Hook
Crescent Bell Coronet Dagger Horseshoe
Eagle’s Head Key Lion Passant Mascle Key (Vertical)
Quatrefoil Rose Roundel Star Leaf
Thistlehead Triangle Turtle Woolpack Fleece
Lion Rampant Three Lis Stirrup Cross Patee Halbard
Crescent W/Mullet Annulet W/Pellet Cross W/Pellets Cross Calvary Harp
Cross Patee Fitchee Cross Patonce Cross Patonce Saltire Estoile Heart
Eye Nautilus Pike Head Shield
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Harington Farthings – (1613 – 1616) Identifying features – IACO at 12 o’clock Privy Marks – Can be found on the band of the crown, below the crown, or more commonly on the reverse before FRA as shown below.
Reverse Legend – IACO DG MAG BRIT Obverse Legend – FRA ET HIB REX Which is an abbreviated version of (Iacobvs Dei Gratia Magnae Britanniae Franciae et Hiberniae) which translates as - James by The Grace of God, King of all the Britains, France and Ireland
Lennox Farthings – (1616 – 1625) Identifying features – IACO starts at 1 o’clock Privy Marks – Can be found on the reverse before FRA, on both sides (after REX and before IACO), or more commonly on the obverse at 12 o’clock as shown below.
Reverse Legend – IACO DG MAG BRI(T) Obverse Legend – FRA ET HIB REX Which is an abbreviated version of (Iacobvs Dei Gratia Magnae Britanniae Franciae et Hiberniae) which translates as - James by The Grace of God, King of all the Britains, France and Ireland
Richmond Farthings – 1625 - 1634 Identifying features – CARO starts at 1 o’clock Privy Marks – Found on the obverse at 12 o’clock as shown below.
Reverse Legend – CARO DG MAG BRI(T) Obverse Legend – FRA ET HIB REX Which is an abbreviated version of (Carolvs Dei Gratia Magnae Britanniae Franciae et Hiberniae) which translates as - Charles by The Grace of God, King of all the Britains, France and Ireland
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Maltravers Farthings – 1634 – 1636 Identifying features – Double ring design and CAROLVS starts at 1 o’clock Privy Marks – Can be found on the obverse at 12 o’clock, or more commonly on both sides (after REX and before CAROLVS) as shown below.
Reverse Legend – CAROLVS DG MAG BRIT Obverse Legend – FRAN ET HIB REX Which is an abbreviated version of (Carolvs Dei Gratia Magnae Britanniae Franciae et Hiberniae) which translates as - Charles by The Grace of God, King of all the Britains, France and Ireland
Richmond/Maltravers Irish Ovals – 1625 - 1636 Identifying features – The flan is more oval as the name suggests and CARO or IACO starts at 7 o’clock Privy Marks – Can be found before CARO, after REX or on both sides (after REX and before IACO or CAROLVS)
Reverse Legend – IACO DG MAG BR or CARO DG MA(G) BRI(T) Obverse Legend – FRA ET HIB REX Which is an abbreviated version of (Iacobvs or Carolvs Dei Gratia Magnae Britanniae Franciae et Hiberniae) which translates as – James or Charles by The Grace of God, King of all the Britains, France and Ireland Rose Farthings – 1636 – 1644 Identifying features – Harp replaced with rose, double ringed design & CAROLVS starts at 1 o’clock. Can be found with a single or double rose design, and the sceptres crossed through or below the crown. Privy Marks – Can be found before CAROLVS, or more commonly on both sides (after REX and before CAROLVS) as shown below.
Reverse Legend – CAROLV(S) DG MAG BRI(T) Obverse Legend – FRA(N) ET HIB(ER) REX Which is an abbreviated version of (Carolvs Dei Gratia Magnae Britanniae Franciae et Hiberniae) which translates as - Charles by The Grace of God, King of all the Britains, France and Ireland
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The crescent privy mark both sides is by far the commonest privy mark on rose farthings, and Everson claims that this accounts for nearly 50% of all specimens. A brass wedge is also found on many examples, which was used to deter counterfeiting. It is believed that a rod of copper was produced with a notch in it, and then molten brass poured into the wedge, finally the rod was sliced to create the blank flans.
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