Silver Farthing

The first round farthing was issued from 1279 under Edward I it was made of silver, prior to 1279 if change smaller than a penny was required it was a common practice to actually cut the penny in half (halfpenny) and if needed half again (farthing). Edward I also introduced a new denomination, the groat. Farthings continued to be produced in small quantities for most monarchs up to Edward VI in about 1553, when the last silver farthing was produced, as this led to a severe shortage of a small denomination a tin coated bronze farthings was introduced 1613.

Silver Farthings were only minted in fairly low numbers because the production cost of these small coins cost just as much, as the production of the larger value coins. James I introduced the first copper farthing, the last farthing minted was in the reign of Elizabeth II in 1956 and stopped being legal tender in 1960.

As Silver farthings are such a small coin there are not many metal detectors that can actually locate them, consequently they tend to be rare today.

	Maundy Money Maundy ceremony, a religious ceremony which is held each year in the UK where four small coins, a one, two, three and four pence coins are minted in very limited numbers. These coins are legal tender but are not used as a circulating currency. The reigning monarch gives these silver coins, known as Maundy money, to a number of selected poor people.