Farthing

Farthing (Sax. feorðing, from feorð, 'fourth'), an English copper coin equivalent in value to the fourth part of a penny. In accordance with representations made to the government by Dean Swift for the improvement of the coinage, certain pattern farthings were struck in the years 1713-14, known as 'Queen Anne's farthings.' Five distinct varieties are known to exist. The scarcity and value of the pices, which are indeed not rare amongst collectors, has been strangely exaggerated.