A Biographical Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in the
Northern Counties of England and in Scotland, Vol II
by the Reverend Thomas Frognall Dibdin, D.D.

Also all the coinage minted by that famous artist Mr. Croker, the engraver for Queen Anne's mint. Among these are the trial pieces, commonly called Queen Anne's Farthings, struck in gold, silver, and copper. Of these there are four dies, as 1713, the most common; 1714, the next in rarity; the third has on the reverse, Pax Missa per Orbem, where the Queen is seated under a canopy; and the fourth, which is the most rare, has on the reverse Britannia driving the Edissarium, or Antique Chariot. Almost every one has heard of the farthings of Queen Anne, but the truth is they are of no great value; that of 1713 is not worth 5s.; of 1714 not 10s.; the pax missa, &c. about £1; and the chariot is worth about £4.10s. Anne was always averse to a copper coinage, though much wanted. Croker exerted his abilities in engraving these dies, hoping their elegance and beauty would merit her attention; but it was to no purpose. The Queen could not be brought to hear of a copper coinage, and the nominal Queen Anne's farthings are these trial pieces. The absurdity of price, sometimes attached to them, is inconceivable. One of them, of 1713, was once shewn me by a father, who said he should leave it to his son as a £500 legacy!