monetary wren

We have Edward VIII to thank for putting the wren on the reverse side of the farthing.

He wanted to break with tradition all together  by insisted that his left profile be used on the coinage instead of the right which would have been used if he had followed the alternating tradition going back to Charles II. 

Unfortunately he abdicated before his coins came into circulation, but the wren stayed :~))

In a complete break from tradition Britannia was dropped from the reverse  in 1936 for the first time since 1672, and replaced by one of Britain's smallest birds, the wren. This reverse remained in use for the remainder of the coins' existence.

They were made into jewellery for men and women "~)

The farthing was in use from the 13th century, but in 1953 a correspondent wrote to The Times that a bus conductor refused to accept eight farthings for a twopenny bus fare, and that a newspaper vendor had become abusive when offered six farthings for a newspaper. Although a subsequent letter pointed out that the farthing was still legal tender in sums up to one shilling, by 1956 it was apparent that due to inflation the farthing had outlived its usefulness, and minting ceased after that year. The farthing ceased to be legal tender after 31 December 1960.