Double Florin

1887 Jubilee Head Double Florin Unc

The Double Florin was only issued for 4 years from 1887 to 1890 during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee period. A Double florin was 4 shillings, a shilling less than a Crown. This small difference proved to be very expensive and caused no end of problems, so in 1890 they stopped minting them altogether. These are struck in Sterling Silver and have the Queen’s Jubilee Bust on the obverse, the reverse has crowned cruciform shields around central the Garter star, four sceptres with national emblems fill the angles. We have a group of 1887 Double Florins in Nearly extremely Fine condition available, most would call them EF, but while stocks last, we can offer them at a Special Price. A shortlived, large silver Victorian coin in high grade and approaching 140 years old!

When Queen Victoria celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 1887, she not only allowed them to change her portrait but also to issue a new denomination. That was the Double Florin which was equivalent to Four Shillings. It was almost crownsized and struck in Sterling Silver. Today we have an equivalent coin, but we call it a 20 Pence. Shows what time and inflation will do to money. The Double Florin was also known as the Bar-Maids ruin. After she had had a few drinks, the bar-maid would often give change for a Crown and not a Double Florin. That Shilling difference was a lot of money and came directly from the Bar-Maids wages. This Double Florin was only made from 1887-1890. In the past we have offered the Queen Victoria Double Florin in Fine and even in Very Fine, now we can offer them in Extremely Fine condition. These are super coins and most are dated 1887, remember they are struck in Sterling Silver and they have the Jubilee Head portrait of the Queen.

The Double Florin was a short-lived denomination 1887-1890, which had a value of four shillings and was struck in Sterling Silver. We have bought a nice group the last and more difficult date, 1890, they are in Very Good and Fine condition. The collector had something for that date and put aside all that he saw over a rather long period of time. These coins were also known as ‘The Barmaid’s Ruin’ as they often mistook the four-shilling piece for a crown or five-shilling piece. We are going to offer this better date coin at the same price we would charge for a regular date of Double Florin. All coins are dated 1890 and are available in two different grades, Fine the choice is yours…

Do you have this Victorian Silver Coin in your pocket? Well no actually you don’t, but you might have the direct decimal equivalent. If you have in your pocket or handbag a 20p piece please get it out. Because the coin we are offering you is the same denomination but in Victorian spending money. The famous or infamous Victorian Double Florin (Four Sterling Silver Shillings) would be worth 20p in today’s money. Here we present the coin in Fine condition. First issued for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887 the Double Florin was last issued in 1890. Too many drunk barmaids gave change for a crown 5 shillings when they were only given a Double Florin 4 shillings. This helped to get them to stop making this short-lived denomination. Its nickname quickly became ‘the barmaid’s ruin’, for all those barmaids who gave the wrong change and were ruined..

While you might not have this Victorian silver coin in your pocket, you probably have its direct decimal equivalent. If you have in your pocket or handbag a 20p piece please get it out. Because the coin we are going to offer you is the same denomination but in Victorian spending money. The famous or infamous Double Florin or Four Sterling Silver Shillings, and in today’s money 20p. First issued for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887 the Double Florin was last issued in 1890. Too many drunk barmaids gave change for a crown 5 shillings when they were only given a Double Florin 4 shillings. This helped to get them to stop making this short-lived denomination. Its nickname had quickly become ‘the barmaid’s ruin’, for all those barmaids who gave the wrong change and were ruined...

The Double Florin or Bar Maid’s Ruin as it was known was only struck from 1887 until 1890. By then they decided that the denomination was causing more trouble than it was solving and they ceased making it. A Double Florin was four Shillings almost crownsized and struck in Sterling Silver. It was issued as part of the new Jubilee Head issue to celebrate Queen Victoria’s 50th year as our Queen. They were well and truly used and we are offering them in Very Good condition. They are dated between 1887-1890.