Background:

After the formation of the Irish Free State in 1922, UK currency remained the formal currency of the Irish Free State until 1928. After this date, UK coins continued to circulate alongside the Irish coins right up until Decimalisation (1971) and well into the 1970s. Irish Free State farthings were minted in London by The Royal Mint and were similar in terms of metal alloy, weight and diameter – as such, it was easy for the two coins to co-exist in the pockets (and tills) of Ireland post-Independence.



Farthing: George V

Alloy: Bronze (95% copper, 4% tin and 1% zinc)

Weight: 2.83g

Diameter: 22.19mm

Edge: Plain

Designers Obverse: Bertram MacKennal Reverse: George De Saulles



Obverse, Type 1: 1937-48 inclusive

Obverse:

Bare head of King George V facing left, with the surrounding legend:

‘GEORGIVS V DEI GRA:BRITT:OMN:REX FID:DEF:IND:IMP:’ Full Latin text: GEORGIVS V DEI GRATIA BRITANNIARUM OMNIUM REX FIDEI DEFENSOR INDIAE IMPERATOR Translation: George V, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.



Reverse:

Britannia seated, facing right, wearing a helmet, holding a trident, hand resting on a shield, with the word ‘FARTHING’ around the top, and date below

Edge:

Plain

Notes:

Obverse, Type 2: 1925-36 inclusive

Obverse:

Modified effigy There were only subtle alterations to design from some time in the middle of 1925 onwards, i.e. the rim denticals were extended, and designs inside of these were slightly reduced in size.



Notes:

Both Type 1 and Type 2 obverse is found in the 1925 farthing Both variations are easy to find, i.e. neither one is scarcer than the other. There is no price premium



In addition to the above, there are also dark and bright variations Between 1911 and 1918, George V farthings were artificially darkened to reduce confusion with half-sovereign. In 1918, both variations exist. After 1918, the coins do naturally turn dark with wear & oxidation.





Within days of the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914, the Government asked the public to hand in its gold Sovereigns. The Government used the precious metal to pay off its international debt, support the Bank of England’s reserves and finance the war effort. Very soon, the intrinsic value of a gold sovereign would be way more than £1

On 7 August 1914 the Government issued two Treasury notes. One was worth £1 while the other was worth 10 shillings. They were designed to replace the gold Sovereigns and Half-Sovereigns By the summer of 1915, gold was no longer a regular part of the coinage of GB & Ireland – an incredible turnaround from before the Great War when there was about £100m in gold coins circulating

By the end of the war, it did not matter what colour the farthings were because there were no half-sovereigns in circulation

Market Values: