1 Farthing - Victoria 2nd portrait; 2nd type

Features

Location	United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies)
Issuing entity	The Royal Mint
Queen	Victoria  (1837-1901)
Type	Standard circulation coin
Years	1874-1895
Value	1 Farthing (1⁄960)
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
1874
H

Engraver: Leonard Charles Wyon 

Edge

Plain

Mints

Comments

The denomination 'farthing' originated from 'four-thing' as four of them totalled one penny.

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.