English Farthing, Rose

During the reign of King Charles I (1625-1649), three different types of copper alloy farthing coins were produced: Richmond farthings, Maltravers farthings, and this type, Rose farthings. All three types made their way to Jamestown in the pockets of colonists who came to Virginia, or in the purses of those who traded goods in the busy port city.

The Rose farthings are so named because, unlike other types of English copper alloy farthings, they include on the reverse a crowned rose. Like the other farthings, the obverse depicts a crown and two crossed scepters. The surrounding legend is also similar to all other farthing coins minted during Charles I’s reign, with lettering of an abbreviated version of the phrase, “Charles I, by the Grace of God, of Britain, France, and Ireland, King”.

In an attempt to combat forgeries, the composition of the coins was also changed. The directions given to Lord Maltravers and Sir Frances Crane in 1636 indicated that the new coins “should have a little brass in the middle of the copper.” In some non-archaeological rose farthings, the brass part of the coin looks different than the copper. The coins in the Jamestown collection do not show this visual difference, but it is possible that targeted elemental analysis could show where brass was inserted into these artifacts.

Rose farthings were produced from 1636 until 1644, providing archaeologists a terminus post quem, or date after which, for their recovery on site. If a Rose farthing is found, it could only have been dropped on the site after 1636. Only seven of these small coins have been found at Jamestown so far, including one from a midden, an area where trash was thrown just to the east of the fort.

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