This beautifully preserved William and Mary farthing was discovered by Yanne on one of our permissions in the Surrey Hills. Found on a super muddy autumn day, it was uncovered in a field we had already detected several times before. Despite the conditions and the fact that farthings of this period usually emerge with only the faintest hint of a portrait, this example is remarkably clear. It stands in sharp contrast to our William and Mary halfpenny from the same era, which shows how rare such preservation can be.
Dated 1694, the coin shows the joined busts of William III and Mary II, who reigned jointly from 1689 until Marys death in the same year this farthing was struck. Their reign marked an important moment in British history, including the establishment of constitutional monarchy following the Glorious Revolution. Farthings were essential low value coins in everyday life, circulating widely among labourers, traders and travellers.
This field has proved to be one of our most productive permissions, yielding new discoveries every time we return. Finds like this suggest that the Surrey Hills were once a hive of activity, with people working, travelling and living on the very ground we search today. This little copper coin is a small but vivid reminder of that lively past.