What is a farthing?
Q: What is a farthing?
A: A farthing was a coin of the Kingdom of England worth one quarter of a penny or 1/960 of a pound sterling.
Q: Where did the word "farthing" come from?
A: The word "farthing" comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "feorthing", which means a fourthling or fourth part. It was probably derived from the Old Norse word "fjorthungr", meaning a "quarter".
Q: When were farthings first minted in England?
A: Farthings were first minted in England in silver in the 13th century.
Q: When did the use of farthings end?
A: The use of farthings in England ended in 1953 when the coin's low value forced its last minting. The coin ceased to be legal tender on 1 January 1961.
Q: What were early farthings made of?
A: Early farthings were made of silver.
Q: What were later farthings made of?
A: Later farthings were made of copper and tin.
Q: Why did the British farthing's last minting occur in 1953?
A: The British farthing's low value forced its last minting in 1953. A Londoner complained of abusive vendors when he tried to offer the coin for purchases.
