Charles I 1640 Maltravers Type Farthing
Lot 195 in our auction Saturday 22nd March 2025
During the tumultuous reign of Charles I (1625-1649), a significant shortage of small denomination coinage, especially farthings, plagued the English economy. To alleviate this deficiency, the Crown granted patents to private individuals, authorizing them to mint their own farthings. Henry Maltravers was among those who received this privilege, thus giving rise to the name “Maltravers farthing.” These coins, therefore, stand as a tangible reminder of the economic pressures and instability prevalent during the turbulent period immediately preceding the English Civil War.
