old name for english money,
started with farthing, ... mythical money included "a brass farthing" (maybe it wasn't always mythical? )

(Sory for resurrecting a dying thread but I have just managed to log on for the first time in some weeks...)

I am reminded of the penny farthing bicycle (come back Shona, all is forgiven!), so called because it had a big wheel and a small wheel. The pre-decimal English penny was huge, and the farthing minute.