Brass farthing

The farthing was traditionally the smallest and lowest value coin in Britain and existed in various forms from the 13th century until 1960 when it ceased to be legal tender. The word farthing is a contraction of 'fourth thing' meaning that it is a fourth part or a quarter of a penny. The expression 'not worth a brass farthing' describes someone or something that is of little or no value. During the reign of Charles I, a small plug of brass was introduced into the copper farthing coin and this gave rise to the expression, which dates from the mid-17th century.