John Irish Farthing

The John Irish Farthing, struck in silver during King John's turbulent reign, was one of the first coins to enforce the English sterling standard across Ireland. That meant a uniform weight and fineness, no matter how remote the village. For a coin so small, it carried the weight of imperial ambition.

These farthings were likely minted in Dublin, using dies shipped from England to maintain consistency. The design was simple: a crude portrait of the king on one side, a cross on the other, with the inscription sometimes illegible due to poor striking. We don't know the exact mintage figures; records from that era are scarce, often lost to time or pillage.

What surprises me, after handling dozens, is how worn they get from constant use. A farthing didn't buy much, but it greased the wheels of trade in a fractious land. As for myths about hidden treasures, I've yet to find one in a peat bog.