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Before the regin of James the First, nothing beyond pennies and halfpennies in silver
appear to have been attempted to supply the poor with a currency. In 1611, Sir Robert Cotton
propounded a scheme for a copper coinage; this was not, however, carried out. A scheme to
enrich the king, produced the farthing token, weighing six grains, and producing 24s. 3d. for
the pound weight of copper; half the profit was to be the king's, and the other half the patentce's.
The first patent was granted to Baron Harrington, of Exton, Rutlandshire, April 10th, 1613,
and a Proclamation was issued May 19th, 1613, forbidding the use of traders' tokens in lead,
copper, or brass. The new coin was to bear, on the one side, the King's title, "Jaco. D.G.
Mag. Bri., two sceptres through a crown"; on the reverse, "Fra. et. Hib. Rex., a
harp crowned." The mind mark, a rose. A Proclamation was published June 4th, 1625,
prohibiting any one from counterfeiting this coin. Upon the death of Lord Harrington,
in 1614, the Patent was confirmed to Lady Harrington and her assigns; subsequently it
was granted to the Duke of Lenox and James Marquis of Hamiliton, and on the 11th
July, 1625, to Frances, Duchess Dowager of Richmond and Lenox, and Sir Francis Crane,
Knight, for seventeen years, the patentees paying to the King one hundred marks yearly,
By a Proclamation issued in 1633, the counterfeiters of these tokens were, upon conviction, to be fined 100l. a piece, to be set on the pillory in Cheapside, and from thence
whipped through the streets to Old Bridewell, and there kept to work; and when enlarged,
to find sureties for their good behaviour. On the 3rd of August, 1644, the Mayor,
Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London petitioned the House of Commons against
the inconvenience of this coin, and the hardship suffered by the poor in consequence. No
farthing tokens being issued during the Commonwealth, private persons were under the necessity of striking their own tokens. The practice being, however, contrary to law, was subsequently
prohibited by a Proclamation issued August 16th, 1672. It further appears, by an advertisement
in the London Gazette, No. 714, September 23rd, 1672, that an office called the "Farthing
Office," was opened in Fenchurch Street, near Mincing Lane, for the issue of these coins on
Tuesday in each week, and in 1673–4 an order was passed to open the office daily. These
measures not proving effectual to prevent private coinage of tokens, another Proclamation
was issued October 17th, 1673, and another December 12th, 1674. These farthing tokens
encountered the contempt and scorn of all persons to whom they were tendered, as being
of the smallest possible value. Sarcastic allusions were made to them by dramatists,
poets, and wits; "Meercraft," in Ben Jonson's "Devill is an Asse," Act ii, sc. I, played
in 1616, alludes to this coin and its patentee.—Vide Ruding's 'Coinage'; Senelling's 'Coinage';
Beaufoy's 'Catalogue of Traders' Tokens,' published by the Corporation, &c.
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