Farthing 1875, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

Farthing 1875, Coin from United Kingdom (demonetised 1961)
CoinFarthing 1875

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.

The denomination continues the tradition of earlier farthing coins of Great Britain, which also featured the figure of Britannia. The bronze coins of this type replaced the larger copper farthings which were issued until 1860; copper was considered to be impractical as it wore too rapidly due to extensive circulation. The new, more durable, alloy was composed of 95 parts of copper, four of tin and one of zinc. The coins were also smaller and thinner, therefore more convenient to carry. The dies were engraved by Leonard Charles Wyon, then Engraver to the Royal Mint.

The reverse features a new, third, design of Britannia. The obverse carries Leonard Wyon's "Bun Head" portrait of Queen Victoria. Both sides were updated to the farthings carrying the fourth Britannia design and a new effigy of the Queen in 1895.

Farthings were demonetised before the rest of the pre-decimal currency. They ceased to be legal tender after 31 December 1960. In other words, farthings issued in 1875 remained in circulation for 86 years.

MintMint markTotal Mintage
Heaton Mint Letter H 6,092,800 (6.1 million)
Royal Mint No mint mark 712,760
Obverse
United Kingdom / Farthing 1875 - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin shows the young effigy of Queen Victoria by Leonard Charles Wyon, which is widely known as the "Bun Head" due to the Queen's hairstyle.

The portrait depicts Queen Victoria facing left, wearing a bodice and a mantle decorated with rose, thistle and shamrock (the floral symbols of the constituent parts of the United Kingdom - England, Scotland and Ireland respectively); in her hair is a wreath of leaves and berries tied at back with ribbon, her hair is drawn to a plaited bun behind; she wears a circular brooch; at the back of her shoulder, a small part of the Star of the Garter is visible, with a small part of its motto ("HONI SO") readable.

Around, the monarch's legend: VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :. Translated from Latin: Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith.

Obverse Inscription VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Reverse
United Kingdom / Farthing 1875 - reverse photo

The reverse of the coin shows, within a beaded border, the figure of Britannia - the female personification of Great Britain - seated facing right, wearing a crested Corinthian helmet pushed back to reveal her face, resting her right hand on a shield bearing the combined crosses of the Union Flag, and holding a trident in her left hand.

In the background at right, a ship sailing away; at left, a lighthouse. Around above, interrupted by the crest of Britannia's helmet and her trident, the denomination FARTHING.

In exergue, the date 1875.

Coins struck by the Heaton and Sons Mint have the mint mark H below the date; coins struck by the Royal Mint have no mint mark.

Reverse Inscription FARTHING 1875
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

References to additional information:

[Book] Bressett, Kenneth E. 1962. A Guidebook of English Coins, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Wisconsin, USA. pp 16-18
[Book] Freeman, Michael J. 1970. The Bronze Coinage of Great Britain. Motherwell, Scotland. (2016 ed. pp118-127)
[Book] Remick, Jerome. 1971. The Guide Book and Catalogue to British Commonwealth Coins., p191-192

Farthing 1875: Known varieties
Variety RFG for REG
Mintage Issued: unknown
Details

Die break due to which the REG in the legend is like RFG.

Variety Proof, Heaton Mint
Mintage Issued: unknown
Variety Small date, four berries
Mintage Issued: unknown
Variety Small date, five berries
Mintage Issued: unknown
Farthing 1875: References to Information Used
Showing 100 from a total of 136 coins of type: Farthing
Coin NameMintageEffigyLegend
Farthing 1806 unknown King George III - Laureate Head by Küchler GEORGIUS III · D : G · REX. 1806
Farthing 1807 unknown King George III - Laureate Head by Küchler GEORGIUS III · D : G · REX. 1807
Farthing 1821 2,688,000 King George IV - Laureate Head GEORGIUS IIII DEI GRATIA.
Farthing 1822 5,924,352 King George IV - Laureate Head GEORGIUS IIII DEI GRATIA.
Farthing 1823 2,365,440 King George IV - Laureate Head GEORGIUS IIII DEI GRATIA.
Farthing 1825 4,300,800 King George IV - Laureate Head GEORGIUS IIII DEI GRATIA.
Farthing 1826 (First Issue) 6,666,240 King George IV - Laureate Head GEORGIUS IIII DEI GRATIA.
Farthing 1826 (Second Issue) 6,666,240 King George IV - Laureate Head by Wyon GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA · 1826 ·
Farthing 1827 2,365,440 King George IV - Laureate Head by Wyon GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA · 1827 ·
Farthing 1828 2,365,440 King George IV - Laureate Head by Wyon GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA · 1828 ·
Farthing 1829 1,505,280 King George IV - Laureate Head by Wyon GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA · 1829 ·
Farthing 1830 2,365,440 King George IV - Laureate Head by Wyon GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA · 1830 ·
Farthing 1831 2,688,000 King William IV - Bare Head GULIELMUS IIII DEI GRATIA 1831
Farthing 1834 1,935,360 King William IV - Bare Head GULIELMUS IIII DEI GRATIA 1834
Farthing 1835 1,720,320 King William IV - Bare Head GULIELMUS IIII DEI GRATIA 1835
Farthing 1836 1,290,240 King William IV - Bare Head GULIELMUS IIII DEI GRATIA 18316
Farthing 1837 3,010,560 King William IV - Bare Head GULIELMUS IIII DEI GRATIA 1837
Farthing 1838 591,360 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1838
Farthing 1839 4,300,800 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1839
Farthing 1840 3,010,560 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1840
Farthing 1841 1,720,320 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1841
Farthing 1842 1,290,240 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1842
Farthing 1843 4,085,760 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1843
Farthing 1844 430,080 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1844
Farthing 1845 3,225,600 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1845
Farthing 1846 2,580,480 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1846
Farthing 1847 3,879,720 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1847
Farthing 1848 1,290,240 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1848
Farthing 1849 645,120 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1849
Farthing 1850 430,080 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1850
Farthing 1851 1,935,360 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1851
Farthing 1852 822,528 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1852
Farthing 1853 1,028,628 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1853
Farthing 1854 6,504,960 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1854
Farthing 1855 3,440,640 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1855
Farthing 1856 1,771,392 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1856
Farthing 1857 1,075,200 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1857
Farthing 1858 1,720,320 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1858
Farthing 1859 1,290,240 Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1859
Farthing 1860 (Copper) unknown Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1860
Farthing 1860 2,867,200 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1861 8,601,600 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1862 14,336,000 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1863 1,433,600 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1864 (Copper) unknown Queen Victoria - Young Head VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1864
Farthing 1864 2,508,800 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1865 4,659,200 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1866 3,584,000 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1867 5,017,600 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1868 4,851,208 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1869 3,225,600 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1872 2,150,400 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1873 3,225,620 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1874 3,584,000 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1875 6,805,560 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1876 1,175,200 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1877 (Proof only) unknown Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1878 4,008,540 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1879 3,977,180 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1880 1,842,710 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1881 5,286,670 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1882 1,792,000 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1883 1,128,680 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1884 5,782,000 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1885 5,442,308 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1886 7,767,790 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1887 1,340,800 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1888 1,887,250 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1890 2,133,070 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1891 4,959,690 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1892 887,240 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1893 3,904,320 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1894 2,396,770 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1895 (Young Head) 2,852,852 Queen Victoria - Bun Head VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Farthing 1895 (Veiled Head) 2,852,852 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Farthing 1896 3,668,610 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Farthing 1897 4,579,800 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Farthing 1898 4,010,080 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Farthing 1899 3,864,616 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Farthing 1900 5,969,317 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Farthing 1901 8,016,459 Queen Victoria - Veiled Head VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Farthing 1902 5,125,120 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1903 5,331,200 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1904 3,628,800 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1905 4,076,800 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1906 5,340,160 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1907 4,399,360 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1908 4,264,960 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1909 8,852,480 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1910 2,598,400 King Edward VII - Bare Head EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1911 5,196,800 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1912 7,669,760 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1913 4,184,320 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1914 6,126,988 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1915 7,129,254 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1916 10,993,325 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1917 21,434,844 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1918 19,362,818 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1919 15,089,425 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Farthing 1920 11,480,536 King George V - Bare Head GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Showing 1 to 100 of 136 Coins.
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Farthing 1875: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling (pre-decimal)
Coin TypeFarthing (Britannia, third design)
Issued1875
MonarchQueen Victoria
EffigyQueen Victoria - Portrait by Leonard Charles Wyon (Bun Head)
ReverseBritannia, Seated
Face Value1/4 (x Penny)
Circulation Mintage6,805,560 (6.8 million)
Total Mintage6,805,560 (6.8 million)
CurrentNo; demonetised 1961
MaterialBronze
DesignerLeonard Charles Wyon
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size20.0000 mm
Thickness1.3000 mm
Mass2.8400 g
OCC IDBYNK-ODDC-GGJL-OPQM
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Farthing 1875: Photos
ImageDetails
Farthing 1875: Photo Coin, Great Britain, Farthing 1875 / thumbnail Coin, Great Britain, Farthing 1875
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Notes: No mint mark.
Source
Farthing 1875: Photo Coin, Great Britain, Farthing 1875 / thumbnail Coin, Great Britain, Farthing 1875
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Source
Farthing 1875: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom3958, 3959 Heaton
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsGreat Britain KM# 753