Victorian third farthing
The images of this little bronze coin, which measures 14mm in diameter, came in from Mike Ruczynski. It is just one of a huge number of items in a massive chest bought from an antique dealer a couple of years since.
The coin is a Victorian third farthing, which is dated 1885 on the reverse. At the time this coin was struck a £1 coin (a gold sovereign) was equal to 2,880 third farthings.
Today it is difficult to imagine that coins with such low face values circulated widely. Wages and prices were much lower and in small scale monetary transactions third farthings would be in everyday use.
Valuation
Mikes coin would grade good VF and to a collector it should be worth around £15. Interestingly, this figure is 43,299 times its face value!
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