The quarter farthing was a British coin, produced for circulation in Ceylon in various years between 1839 and 1853 (although proof coins were anomalously produced in 1868). It is the lowest denomination of coin ever minted for the United Kingdom. It was worth 1⁄16 penny (0.0625d), or 1⁄3840 pound (£0.000 260 416 666).
The coin is considered to be part of the British coinage because it has no indication of what country it was minted for, being made in the same style as the contemporary half-farthing which was legal tender in Britain from 13 June 1842 to 1869.
Coins were minted in 1839, 1851, 1852, 1853, and the proof issue of 1868. The 1839–53 coins were made of copper, weighed 1.2 grams, and had a diameter of 13.5 millimetres. The 1868 coins were made of bronze or cupro nickel, but weighed the same and had the same diameter.
The obverse bears the left-facing portrait of Queen Victoria, with the inscription VICTORIA D G BRITANNIAR REGINA F D, while the reverse bears a crown above the words QUARTER FARTHING with a rose with three leaves at the bottom of the coin.
The next coin is the Third farthing.
For other denominations, see British coinage.
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