© John Conduitt (CC BY-SA)
© John Conduitt (CC BY-SA)
1 Farthing - Henry II Short Cross type; class 1a ND
1180 year| Silver | 0.28 g | 10 mm |
| Issuer | England (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| King | Henry II (1154-1189) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 1180 |
| Value | 1 Farthing (1⁄960) |
| Currency | Pound sterling (1158-1970) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 0.28 g |
| Diameter | 10 mm |
| Shape | Quarter circle |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-08 |
| Numista | N#376137 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 92% |
Reverse
Quarter of legend (moneyer and mint) around voided cross, with four pellets in angles.
Script: Latin
Comment
House of Plantagenet (1154-1399), Henry II (1154-89), Short Cross coinage (1180-89), Class 1a1 - 1a3. (Penny ref: Spink 1343, North 962).Henry II ascended the throne in 1154 but coins of Stephen's last type continued to be minted until 1158. The new coinage bearing Henry's name was more commonly referred to as the 'Tealby' coinage, as over 6,000 of these pennies were discovered at Tealby, Lincolnshire in 1807. In 1180 a coinage of new type, known as the Short Cross coinage, replaced the Tealby issue. The new coinage is remarkable in that it covers not only the latter part of the reign of Henry II, but also the reigns of his sons Richard and John and on into the reign of his grandson Henry III, and the entire issue bears the name 'hENRICVS'.
Medieval coins were cut into halves and quarters to provide fractional denominations without the need to strike new coins. It is thought these were generally cut at the mint, although it is also likely to have happened during transactions. Cut farthings are known in England from Anglo-Saxon times (c. 750s) until Edward I introduced round farthings and halfpennies in the new coinage of 1279.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the 1 Farthing - Henry II (Short Cross type; class 1a) ND (1180) coin is that it was minted during the reign of King Henry II, who ruled England from 1154 to 1189. This coin was part of a series of coins minted during his reign, which were designed to standardize the currency and promote trade throughout the kingdom. The coin's design features a crowned bust of King Henry II on one side and a short cross on the other, which was a common design element on coins during this period. Despite its small size and value, this coin is a significant piece of history and a testament to the economic and political developments of medieval England.
