King Richard I Silver Farthing by Roberd of Canterbury

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.