Farthing (Wren), Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information

The Farthing was a small circulating coin of the British pre-decimal Pound Sterling, equal to a quarter of a penny. Prices were never written in farthings though - something worth a farthing would be quoted as 1/4d ("d" being the abbreviation for "penny", from the Roman "denarius"). There were 20 shillings to a pound, 12 pence to a shilling and 4 farthings to a penny, so 960 of these coins made up £1.

In 1801 the parliaments of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland each passed an Act of Union, uniting the two kingdoms and creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Re-coinage followed in 1806, after which four types of farthings were issued: a large copper coin with concave surfaces and a Britannia reverse (1806 and 1807 only), a large copper coin with a second Britannia design (1821 to 1864), then smaller bronze coins - with a third Britannia design (1860 to 1895), a simplified fourth Britannia design (1895 to 1936) and finally this new farthing design featuring a wren bird (1937 to 1956).

The new reverse was adopted mainly due to certain members of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee who favoured a complete departure from the traditional design of former years. A number of artists were invited to submit designs and that of a wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), by Harold Wilson Parker, was finally accepted. The wren, being the smallest British bird, symbolises the smallest denomination of British coin.

During the reign of King George VI, proof strikings were issued in specimen sets in 1937, 1950 and 1951. Proofs of other years are all extremely rare. Proof specimens struck during 1954-1956 are all extremely rare. The 1953 proofs were issued in specimen sets late in the year and all show the re-cut portrait.

Farthings were demonetised before the rest of the pre-decimal currency. They ceased to be legal tender after 31 December 1960.