An extraordinary cache of 2

An extraordinary cache of 2,794 mint state Victorian Farthings, all dated 1890, and the same type, young head left, rev. Britannia seated, lighthouse to left (BMC [Peck] 191 [S]; S 3958; Freeman 562). Generally all glorious mint state with full lustre, though some with spotting and minor imperfections.

Provenance: sold on behalf of the executors of The Hon. Mary Anna Marten dec'd, of Crichel House, Dorset.

The family story behind this remarkable cache is that in 1890 a member of the Alington family from Crichel House, Dorset, had a £5 bet with a friend as to which of two raindrops would reach the bottom of a window pane first. The friend, less than pleased at being the loser, honoured the debt by paying in brand new farthings. The coins were wrapped in tissue paper at the time of issue and the ones now offered, which represent £2 - 18s - 1 1/2d, are what remain of the original payment.