Why was it called a "Penny Farthing"?

[Bretrick]

The first machine to be called a Bicycle.
The name came from the British penny and farthing coins
The British Penny was much larger than the Farthing.
So that the side view resembles a larger Penny leading a smaller Farthing.
That is your lesson for the day

 

[kburra]

Yep

 

[hollydolly]

The first machine to be called a Bicycle.
The name came from the British penny and farthing coins
The British Penny was much larger than the Farthing.
So that the side view resembles a larger Penny leading a smaller Farthing.
That is your lesson for the day

I knew that....

 

[Capt Lightning]

Younger daughter at the Grampian transport museum on a 'penny farthing'.