Introduction
The George VI Farthing was struck from 1937 to 1952 in bronze, carrying throughout the reign the wren reverse first introduced in 1937 — one of the most charming and enduring small-coin designs in British numismatic history. This page provides an overview of the George VI Farthing series, including the 1949 legend change, design notes, and year-by-year reference images.
The farthing's practical value had been in long decline by the time George VI came to the throne, but it continued to be struck and circulated throughout the reign. The series closes in 1952 and the denomination was abolished under Elizabeth II, demonetised on 1 January 1961.
- 1st Coinage (1937–1948) – Bronze farthing with the wren reverse and the full obverse legend including IND IMP.
- 2nd Coinage (1949–1952) – IND IMP removed from the obverse legend following Indian independence; design otherwise unchanged.
Coinage Details
Design — The obverse carries the portrait of George VI by Thomas Humphrey Paget throughout the series. The reverse, attributed to Harold Wilson Parker, depicts a wren perched on a branch — a design introduced for the first time on this denomination in 1937 and used without modification for the remainder of the reign. It is one of the most admired reverses in the twentieth-century British bronze series.
1949 Legend Change — As with the other denominations, the removal of IND IMP from the obverse legend in 1949 marks the beginning of the second and final coinage of the series. The design change was limited to the legend; the portrait and reverse remained identical.
Collecting Notes — The farthing is an underrated series among George VI collectors. The 1938 date, as the second date of a new reign, follows the familiar pattern of the "second date" and is less commonly found in high grade than the 1937. The final issues of 1951 and 1952 were struck in smaller quantities and tend to survive in better average condition, as fewer entered active circulation. High-grade examples of earlier dates from the war years, particularly 1940 to 1944, can be elusive.
George VI Farthings
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
Specifications
| Years Issued |
1937–1951 |
| Diameter |
20 mm |
| Weight |
2.83 g |
| Edge |
Plain |
| Alloy |
Alloy: Copper 95.5%, Tin 3%, Zinc 1.5% |
| Obverse Designer |
Thomas Humphrey Paget |
| Reverse Designer |
Harold Wilson Parker |
