Introduction

In 1636, directions were given to Lord Maltravers and Sir Francis Crane “to make a new sort of farthing token which should have a little brass in the middle of the copper to distinguish the true farthings from forgeries.” The harp on the reverse was replaced by a rose, and hence these pieces are known as the Rose farthings, and are the last made under the patent of Charles I, which was abolished during the interregnum.

• This is the first time this ‘brass plug’ method was used on coinage
• It is a concept similar to the so-called St Patrick’s farthings. so it is natural that one might look for a link between the two
• Tokenhouse introduced a brass segment into the new Rose issues, which virtually defeated the forgers at a stroke
  • Consequently, Rose counterfeits are RARE.

These Rose farthing was much smaller and thicker than the Maltravers, but the revolutionary development was the metal and construction of the coin; most of the coin was copper, but a small “plug” of brass was inserted into part of the coin. This made the Rose farthing an early example of a bimetallic coin and also almost impossible to counterfeit, and the production of forgeries soon ended.

• The obverse shows two sceptres through a crown, and the legend CAROLVS DG MAG BRIT — Charles, by the grace of God, of Great Britain
• The reverse shows a double rose and the continuing inscription FRAN ET HIB REX — France and Ireland, King.
• These issues have inner circles on both sides of the coin, between the legend and the design element.
  • Diameter:  17.5 mm
  • The average weight of the Rose Farthing pieces is about 13 grains, ranging from 9 grains to 17 or 18.
  • Exceptionally heavy pieces occur and are known to weigh 21, 25 and 26 grains.

Variations of the Maltravers Rose Farthings

• Maltravers Rose Farthing, Type 1 : 
• A rather small coin, at 13-14 mm,(though thicker and heavier) than  the Maltravers (16-17mm) it replaced.
• The design is rather similar to the Maltravers with a (plain) inner circle.
  • The obverse design features a chunky crown and sceptres, which lie entirely within the linear circle.
  • The reverse depicts a crowned double rose, with the large rose touching the inner circle.
  • Brass wedge at 12.00 o’clock.
  • Two privy marks are known – lis and martlet, and may be located at 12.00 (obv.) and 10.00 o’clock (rev.)
  • Privy marks may be on either, or both, sides.
  • Both marks may appear on the same coin.
  • One issue with lis/lis has no obverse linear circle.
  • Die axis on all Roses is unrotated.
• Rose Type 1/2 Mules
  • This is a pairing of obverse type 1 with the reverse of type 2.
    • One issue has pm=lis both sides but reads HIBER.
    • Another  has pm=lis on reverse only – but reversed  N in FRAN.
    • A third variant has pm=martlet on obverse, with pm=lis on the reverse plus reversed N in FRAN
• Rose Type 1/3 Mule
  • Type 1 obverse with its large crown paired with a type 3 reverse.
    • Only one issue known and this has an error – namely HIBE.
    • Unfortunately the privy marks are unclear on the 2 specimens seen

• Maltravers Rose Farthing, Type 2 :
• Much smaller emblems are used, with the sceptre handles through the tiny crown just crossing the linear circle.
  • Lis is the only privy mark used and is found on both sides except for a couple of issues where it is omitted from the reverse, on one of which the legend reads HIBER rather than HIB.
  • Another piece reads IIIB.

• Maltravers Rose Farthing, Type 3 :
• This group is something of a catch-all covering all Roses which cannot be slotted into types 2 or 4. The obverse crowns – always double arched – can vary in shape and design, whilst the (double) rose emblem can also differ from one piece to another.
  • BRIT and BRI are both used, and one issue reads HIBE.
  • Privy marks known are – lis/none, none/lis, lis/lis, lis/cross patée, cross patée/lis, cross patée/none, lis/mullet, mullet/lis, and mullet/mullet.
  • Various legend oddities occur such as inverted A for V, inverted V for A, over-struck letters, mis-spelled legends and misplaced punctuation.
    • Apart from two very common issues – E.165a/P.305. lis/lis and E.172a/P.314. mullet/mullet, all coins of this type range from rare to excessively rare.

• Maltravers Rose Farthing, Type 4a :
• This is the simpler design with single arched crowns both sides, a single rose, but still retaining the longer legends.
  • Privy marks can be – lis/lis, mullet/mullet, mullet/crescent, crescent/mullet, and crescent/crescent.
  • This last having a variety with the N of FRAN reversed., and others with distinctly rounded obverse crowns.
• Rose Type 4a/3 Mule
  • This features the 4a obverse with the double rose type 3 reverse
  • Reads CAROLVS DG MAG BRI. Privy mark=crescent/mullet
• Rose Type 4a/4b Mule
  • Obverse of 4a reading CAROLVS, but 4b reverse reading FRA and HI instead of FRAN and HIB
  • Two versions recorded – one with pm=lis/crescent, the other crescent/crescent

• Maltravers Rose Farthing, Type 4b :
• All now read CAROLV DG MA BRI – FRA ET HI REX.
  • Privy marks are – mullet/mullet, crescent/mullet, mullet/crescent, and the EXR crescent/none.
  • The final pairing – crescent/crescent – is by far the most numerous, and probably accounts for 80% of all Roses found today.
  • Inevitably with such a long production run several striking errors occur, leading to letters being over-struck etc.
  • One great rarity has an inverted A substituted for V in CAROLV.
• Rose Type 4b/3 Mule
  • Combining 4b obverse with the type 3 reverse.
  • Reads CAROLV DG MA BRI. Privy mark crescent/mullet

• Rose Type 4b/4a Mule
  • This pairing reverts back to a 4a reverse (FRAN-HIB) linked to a 4b obverse (CAROLV – MA)
  • Privy marks found are crescent/lis, crescent/none and crescent/crescent.
  • Only the latter is common, the others being excessively rare.
• Maltravers Rose Farthing, Type 4 Irregular :
• Some type 4 pieces occur with irregular legends.
• These can be – CAROLV MAG, MA OR M on the obverse.
  • Also known are FRA HIB and FR HI on the reverse.
  • All bear the crescent/crescent privy mark, except for one with mullet/mullet.
  • All are very rare to exceptionally rare pieces

• Maltravers Rose Farthing, Type 5a :
• This final series differs from all others in that the sceptres are crossed beneath the obv.crown.
  • Type 5a having bosses on the sceptre handles.
  • Privy mark is  mullet/mullet.
  • The legend reads – CAROLV D:G MAG BR and FRA ET HIB REX.

• Maltravers Rose Farthing, Type 5b :
• Very similar to 5a with crossed sceptres below the crown – but now the handles are plain.
  • Several combinations of legend occur, using – MAG  BR, MA BRI or MA BR. on the obverse – twinned with FRA HIB, FRA HI or FR HIB on the reverse. Pm=mullet/mullet.
  • One issue has an inverted A for V in CAROLV, whilst another has the cross missing from the central orb of the obverse crown.

Privy (private) marks recorded on the James I & Charles I ‘patent’ farthings