Daily AncestorFarthing
A farthing was a quarter of a penny, the smallest coin and unit in the pounds, shillings and pence money used in colonial accounts.
The name comes from the Old English word for a fourth part. Four farthings made a penny, so a pound held 960 farthings. Careful accounts and prices for small goods sometimes carry sums down to the farthing.
The word also came to mean a very small amount of anything, which is why not worth a farthing meant nearly worthless.
As seen in a recordMerchant's day book, 1750s
By 1 doz. needles ... 0. 0. 7¾
Sources
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Daily Ancestor. "Farthing." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/money-measures/farthing. Last checked 2026-10-03.