Code: 12259
This is a medieval silver farthing of King Richard, struck at the Canterbury mint between 1189 - 1199 AD.
Obverse: hЄNRICVS RЄX "King Henry" Legend around crowned facing portrait, with sceptre in right hand.
Reverse: +ROBЄRD · ON · CAN "Roberd of Canterbury"
This coin started life as a penny, but it was necessitated in trade to chop the coins into smaller fractional denominations as halfpennies and farthings. These coins were legal tender and a halfpenny was simply a penny cut in half, whilst farthings (four things) were divided into four parts.
DENOMINATION: Farthing
CULTURE: Medieval England
MONARCH: Richard I
DATE: 1189 - 1199 AD
MATERIAL: Silver
SIZE: 9mm x 9mm
WEIGHT: 0.32 grams
ATTRIBUTION: SCBI 56 (Mass), 903; North 968/1; SCBC 1348A.
PROVENANCE: Formerly in a private collection, in Cambridgeshire.
