Monday, January 1, 2024

The British Farthing on This Day in History

 

This day in history: The British farthing coin, used since the 13th century, ceased to be legal tender on this day in 1961.

The British farthing was a denomination of sterling coinage worth 1/960 of one pound, 1/48 of one shilling, or 1/4 of one penny. The farthing takes its name from the Anglo Saxon word feorthling, or “fourthling,” which refers to its value of one fourth of a penny. 

The King James Bible, being a reflection of the time it was translated, mentions farthings several times. It also mentions pounds and pennies, although neither were used in the Middle East in the 1st century. (Matthew 5:26; Matthew 10:29; Mark 12:42)

The Penny Farthing is the name of the old bicycles which had a large wheel up front and a tiny wheel in the back.



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