The British farthing ( 1⁄4d) coin, from "fourthing", was a unit of currency of

one quarter of a penny, or 1⁄960 of a pound sterling. It was minted in bronze,

and replaced the earlier copper farthings. It was used during the reign of six
monarchs: Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI and
Elizabeth II, ceasing to be legal tender in 1960. It featured two different
designs on its reverse during its 100 years in circulation: from 1860 until
1936, the image of Britannia; and from 1937 onwards, the image of a wren.
Like all British coinage, it bore the portrait of the monarch on the obverse.[1]
Before Decimal Day in 1971, there were 240 pence in one pound sterling.
There were four farthings in a penny, 12 pence made a shilling, and 20
shillings made a pound. Values less than a pound were usually written in
terms of shillings and pence, e.g., three shillings and six pence (3/6),
pronounced "three and six" or "three and sixpence". Values of less than a
shilling were simply written in pence, e.g., 8d, pronounced "eightpence". A
price with a farthing in it would be written like this: (19/ 11
 
1
⁄4), pronounced "nineteen and elevenpence farthing".

The purchasing power of a farthing from 1860 to its demise in 1960 ranged
between 2p to 12p (in 2017 GB Pound values).[2]
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The original reverse of the coin, designed by Leonard Charles Wyon, is a
seated Britannia, holding a trident, with the word FARTHING above. Issues
before 1895 also feature a lighthouse to Britannia's left and a ship to her
right. Various minor adjustments to the level of the sea depicted around
Britannia, and the angle of her trident were also made over the years.
Some issues feature toothed edges, while others feature beading.
Over the years, seven different obverses were used. Edward VII, George
V, George VI and Elizabeth II each had a single obverse for farthings
produced during their respective reigns. Over the long reign of Queen
Victoria two different obverses were used, and the short reign of Edward
VIII meant that no farthings bearing his likeness were ever issued.
The farthing was first issued with the so-called "bun head", or "draped bust"
of Queen Victoria on the obverse. The inscription around the bust
read VICTORIA D G BRITT REG F D (abbreviated Latin: Victoria by the grace
of God queen of Britain defender of the faith). This was replaced in 1895 by
the "old head", or "veiled bust". The inscription on these coins
read VICTORIA DEI GRA BRITT REGINA FID DEF IND IMP (Victoria by the grace
of God queen of Britain defender of the faith empress of India).
Coins issued during the reign of Edward VII feature his likeness and bear
the inscription EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA BRITT OMN REX FID DEF IND
IMP(Edward VII by the grace of God king of all Britain defender of the faith
emperor of India). Similarly, those issued during the reign of George V
feature his likeness and bear the inscription GEORGIVS V DEI GRA BRITT
OMN REX FID DEF IND IMP (George V by the grace of God king of all Britain
defender of the faith emperor of India).
A farthing of King Edward VIII (1936) does exist, dated 1937, but
technically it is a pattern coin, i.e. one produced for official approval, which
it would probably have been due to receive about the time that the King
abdicated. The obverse shows a left-facing portrait of the king (who
considered this to be his best side, and consequently broke the tradition of
alternating the direction in which the monarch faces on coins — some
viewed this as indicating bad luck for the reign); the inscription on the
obverse is EDWARDVS VIII D G BR OMN REX F D IND IMP (Edward VIII by the
grace of God king of all Britain defender of the faith emperor of India).
The pattern coin of Edward VIII and regular-issue farthings of George VI
and Elizabeth II feature a redesigned reverse displaying the wren, one of
Britain's smallest birds.
George VI issue coins feature the inscription GEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN REX
F D IND IMP (George VI by the grace of God king of all Britain defender of
the faith emperor of India) before 1949, and GEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN REX
FIDEI DEF (George VI by the grace of God king of all Britain defender of the
faith) thereafter. Unlike the penny, farthings were minted throughout the
early reign of Elizabeth II, bearing the inscription ELIZABETH II DEI GRA BRITT
OMN REGINA F D (Elizabeth II by the grace of God queen of all Britain
defender of the faith) in 1953, and ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F
D(Elizabeth II by the grace of God queen defender of the faith) thereafter.