Why no love for farthings?

I'm amazed that there are still great farthings around for excellent prices. I understand supply and demand. I understand the bad economy. I even understand the bullion bubble/frenzy.

(However, I don't understand the 200X MS whatever. But that's another story.)

That said, why no lovin' for those farthings? They are beautiful pieces of history. Surprisingly, there is little "buzz" surrounding them.

guy

 

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I myself am not familiar with Farthings but I like the coins you posted

 

I like 'em but just don't come across them too often.

 

I received this in change several years ago from a California supermarket:


South Africa Farthing 1955

 

Size matters.

English pennies are more popular than half pennies, which are more popular than farthings.

Why are Morgan $'s so popular - most people love big hunks 'o Silver.


I happen to love farthings!

 

Error

 

farthings, Would love to learn more! They look cool

 

I too know nothing really about them.
What does a MS example go for roughly?
And what years did they make them?

 

I will confess to a fondness for farthings as well. And that 1674 is a beauty!

 

:secret: shhhhhhhhhhhhh! :whistle:

 

I love farthings... they were one of the first coins my elders gave me (they were out of currency when I was a twinkle in my Da's eye). Great wee coins.

You can pick up a fair amount, but some of the rarer ones cost a pretty penny (or four ).

 

I have previously posted scans of those I have, not up to the standard of those shown in the original post I hasten to add :smile but they are about LOL

 

I limit my regal farthing collection to 1806-1956 (end of production). I also collect Conder farthing tokens.

Here are 2 from my collection, 1826 with a flan flaw and 1827, bought from Colin Cooke years ago.

 

Thanks for everyone's input.

A surprisngly good source of information about farthings is this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farthing_(British_coin)

I don't know if this part is entirely correct:

But I once saw a 1897 farthing PCGS MS-something that was the ugliest black thing. I really thought PCGS had blown that call. Only later did I realize they were intentionally darkened so they wouldn't be confused with gold coins.

Question for the farthing experts:

Why is the 1724 flan bigger than the 1722 flan? I know the 1717 farthing is smaller (called the "dump farthing"). I've never read that the 1724 farthing was larger.

guy

 

Funny article from 1961:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,828710,00.html

guy

 

..and of course, we couldn't omit

http://www.aboutfarthings.co.uk/

 

I like that site, too.

One word of caution (probably most people already know), the British grades are a lot stricter:

I've seen many dealers (even"reputable ones") quote the prices from Spink, the respected catalogue of British coins, but fail to mention that the prices are for coins about a whole grade higher than the American grade.

I also like this site (which seems to have prices more compatible with American grades):

http://mycoincollecting.com/coin_catalog.html


guy

 

The prices to me looks as they are loved