English Farthing, Maltravers

The first copper alloy farthings produced in England were minted during the reign of James I. Harrington and Lennox farthings both included lettering indicating the ruler during the time of their production. During the reign of Charles I, the patent for the production of these small coins passed first to the Duchess of Richmond, Frances Stewart, and Sir Francis Crane, Secretary to Charles I in 1625. Farthings produced during this period are called Richmond farthings.

In 1634, the farthing patent passed from the Duchess of Richmond to her nephew by marriage, Henry Howard, Lord Maltravers, with Sir Frances Crane retaining partial holding. The patent was only held by them for two years, 1634-1636, and the coins produced under this patent are called Maltravers farthings.

Maltravers farthings are extremely similar to their predecessors, Richmond farthings, with two notable differences. While both include the central motifs of a crown and two crossed scepters on the obverse and a crowned harp on the reverse, the Maltravers farthings contain these designs within a beaded border. The other difference is in the lettering used to indicate Charles I in the surrounding legend on the obverse. Richmond farthings shorten the name to CARO, but Maltravers farthings use a longer abbreviation: CAROLUS.

Only two of these coins have been recovered by Jamestown Rediscovery archaeologists.

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