The idea that a Queen Anne's farthing is a coin of the greatest rarity,
originated perhaps in the fact that there are several _pattern pieces_
executed by Croker, which are much valued by collectors, and which
consequently bring higher prices. One type only was in circulation, and
this appears to have been very limited, for it is somewhat scarce, though a
specimen may easily be procured of any dealer in coins for a few shillings.
This bears the bust of the {84} Queen, with the legend ANNA DEI
GRATIA--reverse, BRITANNIA around the trite figure of Britannia with the
spear and olive-branch: the date 1714 in the exergue. Those with Peace in a
car, Britannia standing with olive-branch and spear, or seated under an
arch, are patterns; the second has the legend BELLO ET PACE in indented
letters, a mode revived in the reign of George III. It is said that many
years ago a lady in the north of England lost one of the farthings of Queen
Anne, which she much prized as the bequest of a deceased friend, and that
having offered in the public journals a large reward for its recovery, it
was ever afterwards supposed that any farthing of this monarch was of great
value.