Collectors Guide
Edward VII Third Farthing
The Edward VII third farthing was struck primarily for use in Malta and represents a specialist denomination within British colonial coinage. Issued in limited quantities between 1902 and 1910, the series is of particular interest to collectors of British and imperial coinage. This guide provides a detailed reference to Edward VII third farthings, including specifications, design details and collecting insights.
Introduction
Edward VII Third Farthings were minted from 1902 to 1910. These coins are small and charming, popular with collectors for their rarity and historical value.
Issued for Malta as their "grano" was 3 to a farthing.
The production run of 288,000 gives an opportunity to demonstrate the elegance of predecimal maths:
There's 3 of these to a farthing, so 12 to a penny. Thus, there's 144 to a shilling, and 2,880 to the pound. 288,000 minted = 100 pounds sterling, on the nail.
The Edward VII Third Farthing was struck in 1902 only and is among the most historically curious pieces in the Edwardian series. Valued at one third of a farthing — or one 960th of a pound — it was not intended for domestic British circulation but was produced specifically for use in Malta, where the local currency system required small denominations that aligned with the Maltese monetary tradition. This page provides an overview of the Edward VII Third Farthing, including its historical context, specifications, and reference images.
The Third Farthing was struck in bronze and carries the same de Saulles portrait of Edward VII as the other bronze denominations of the reign. It is the final third farthing issued for general circulation in British numismatic history — the denomination had appeared sporadically since the eighteenth century, always for colonial rather than domestic use, and the 1902 Edward VII piece marks its last appearance as a circulating coin.
Coinage Details
1902 — The sole date of the series. Struck in bronze to a diameter of approximately 16 mm, the Third Farthing is a small but distinctly identified coin bearing the denomination ONE THIRD FARTHING on the reverse. Examples in high grade are not common — the coin circulated in Malta and most survivors show some wear — but the piece is actively collected as part of complete Edwardian sets and as an example of British colonial coinage. The 1902 date makes it a natural companion to the other single-date issue of the reign, the Crown.
Specifications
| Years Issued | 1902 only |
| Diameter | 15 mm |
| Weight | 0.94 g |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alloy | Bronze |
| Obverse Designer | George William de Saulles |
| Reverse Designer | Not stated in standard references |
| Issued For | Malta |
Edward VII Third Farthing
Year-by-Year Reference
1902
The 1902 Edward VII Third Farthing is the first in this series. It was issued for Malta as their "grano" was 3 to a farthing.
| 1902 Third Farthing |
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| Obverse | Reverse |
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