1884 GREAT BRITAIN FARTHING - UK COIN - low GRADE.

Features

Location United Kingdom

Issuing entity The Royal Mint

Queen Victoria (1837-1901)

Type Standard circulation coin

Years 1874-1895

Value 1 Farthing = ¼ Penny = 1⁄48 Shilling = 1⁄960 Pound

Currency Pound sterling (1158-1970)

Composition Bronze

Weight 2.83 g

Diameter 20 mm

Thickness 1.3 mm

Shape Round

Technique Milled

Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑

Demonetized 31 December 1960

Number N# 1013

References KM# 753, Sp# 3958/9

Obverse

Second laureate portrait ('Bun Head') of Queen Victoria facing left, legend around.

Script: Latin

Lettering: VICTORIA D:G: BRITT:REG:F:D:

Unabridged legend: Victoria Dei Gratia Britanniarum Regina Fidei Defensatrix

Translation: Victoria by the Grace of God Queen of the Britains Defender of the Faith

Engraver: Leonard Charles Wyon

Reverse

Seated figure of Britannia facing right, trident in left hand, shield with Union flag in right hand, denomination above, date in exergue, sea behind with lighthouse on left and ship on right.

Note: mintmark (if present) below date

Script: Latin

Lettering:

F A R T H I N G

1884

Engraver: Leonard Charles Wyon Read more on Wikipedia

Edge

Plain

Mints

Heaton's Mint, Birmingham, United Kingdom (1850-1889)

Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom (1810-1975)

Comments

The original weight of these pieces was 160 to the pound avoirdupois (1/10 ounce or 43.75 grains).

Mintmark variety:

Sp#3958 no mintmark below date - struck at the Royal Mint, Tower Hill, London.

Sp#3959 'H' mintmark below date - struck at Ralph Heaton & Sons, Birmingham.

All Royal Mint coins 1875-78 have a 'R' with a forked tail; the Heaton issues do not. Consequently, an 1875 with a forked 'R' might well be an 1875H with the 'H' removed to increase its value.