Design types are detailed below, once you have identified and noted the relevant “design type” select a date to view specific variety images, die combinations and minor varieties
1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927
1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936
George V Farthing & Reign Details |
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Born: 3 June 1865 Coronation: 22 June 1911 Died: 20 January 1936 Reign: 25yrs 8mths Farthing Diameter: 20mm Farthing Thickness: 1.5 – 1.75mm Farthing Weight: 2.75 – 2.9g Farthing Edge: Plain Farthings dated 1911-1918 were artificially darkened to prevent any confusion with the half sovereign. |
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Obverse Design 1 (1911 only) |
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George’s head and neck facing left. The engraver’s initials B.M. (Sir Bertram Mackennal) are raised, and are located on the base of the neck, above the “M” of IMP. The legend which reads “GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:” almost encircles the bust. The legend is an abbreviated translation of “George V by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India” The border consists of teeth, and the teeth sit inside a narrow raised rim. |
Obverse Design 2 (1911 – 1915) |
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Similar to Obverse 1, with George’s bust facing left, the hollow in the neck is no longer visible. The engraver’s initials B.M. (Sir Bertram Mackennal) are raised, and are located on the base of the neck, above the “M” of IMP. The legend which reads “GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:” almost encircles the bust. The legend is an abbreviated translation of “George V by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India” The border consists of teeth, and the teeth sit inside a narrow raised rim. The “I” in DEI points directly to a border tooth. |
Obverse Design 3 (1914 – 1925) |
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Similar to Obverse 2, with George’s bust facing left. The engraver’s initials B.M. (Sir Bertram Mackennal) are raised, and are located on the base of the neck, above the “M” of IMP. The legend which reads “GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:” almost encircles the bust. The legend is an abbreviated translation of “George V by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India” The border consists of teeth, and the teeth sit inside a narrow raised rim. The legend has been subject to minor amendment, which has resulted in the “TT” of BRITT being spaced further apart, and the “I” in DEI now points to a gap between two border teeth. |
Obverse Design 4 (1926 – 1936) |
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Similar to Obverse 3, with George’s modified bust facing left. The engraver’s initials B M (Sir Bertram Mackennal) are raised without stops, and are located on the base of the neck, above the “I” of IMP. The legend which reads “GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:” almost encircles the bust. The legend is an abbreviated translation of “George V by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India” The border consists of long teeth, and the teeth sit inside a narrow raised rim. The design now incorporates a slightly smaller portrait, and the legend has again been subject to minor amendment, which has resulted in the spacing between words being slightly altered, and the “I” in IMP now points directly to a border tooth, whereas on Obverse 3 it pointed to a gap. |
Reverse Design A (1911 – 1925) |
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Seated Britannia facing right, wearing a plumed helmet, sandals and long flowing robes. Her right hand rests on a large oval shield bearing the combined crosses of the Union Flag, and the right hand is holding a plain trident. The denomination “FARTHING” is above, and the date is in exergue. The border is toothed, and the teeth sit inside a small raised rim |
Reverse Design B (1926 – 1936) |
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Similar to Reverse A, with seated Britannia facing right, wearing a plumed helmet, sandals and long flowing robes. Britannia’s right hand rests on a large oval shield bearing the combined crosses of the Union Flag, and the right hand is holding a plain trident. The denomination “FARTHING” is above, and the date is in exergue. The border now consists of long teeth, and the teeth sit inside a small raised rim. The design has been slightly reduced, resulting in a slightly smaller Britannia, and the distance from the trident, lettering and shield to the rim is now increased. The legend has been subject to amendment with a noticeably higher horizontal bar to the “H” in “FARTHING”. The waves to the sea are more evident and the exergual line is higher |