Coins of Queen Victoria’s reign are highly in-demand amongst collectors of British Coins. Queen Victoria’s reign began in 1837, after her uncle William IV died. Her reign saw the Golden Age of the British Empire, as well as numerous technological innovations brought by the industrial revolution.
Queen Victoria was born on May 24, 1819, at Kensington Palace, London. She became queen at 18 in 1837 and ruled for 63 years. Her reign was the second-longest in British History, giving coin collectors many dates and denominations from which to choose from. Some coin types were short-lived such as the Double-Florin, and some dates are rather peculiar such as the one seen on the Godless Florin.
Victoria married Prince Albert on the 10, February of 1840 and the two had 9 children together. Prince Alfred passed away in 1861 which left the Queen devastated. With his loss she entered a deep state of mourning wearing black and a veil for the rest of her life.
British coinage would later reflect the Queen's state of mourning. With both the Jubilee Head and Old Head portraits featuring the Queen wearing a veil.
Victorian coins went through 3 different periods, the Young Head Coinage, The Jubilee Coinage and the Old Head coinage. Her reign saw the introduction of the Florin (1/10th of a pound or 0.1 pounds) and the Double Florin. Although they would discontinue the Double Florin after only two years.
Victorian Coins for Sale
If you wish to buy Victorian coins, we have available below coins from all three periods of her coinage. Including some Queen Victoria rare coins.
Pre-Decimal Denomination: Half Farthing or Half Penny or Fourpence (Groat) or Sixpence (Tanner) or Shilling (Bob) or Florin (Two Shillings) or Double Florin or Halfcrown or Crown or Sovereign (One Pound)
In 1887, Queen Victoria celebrated her Golden Jubilee, and the Royal Mint was allowed to change her portrait for the first time since 1838. Unfortunately, Queen Victoria hated her new portrait on the Shilling... Coincraft has a nice group of the first year of issue, 1887. The coins are struck in Sterling Silver and are in Very Fine Condition. Considering they are now 130 years old, this is quite outstanding.
We have bought a nice group of the 1887 Queen Victoria Jubilee Head Sterling Silver Shillings in Extremely Fine condition, a very high grade. 1887 is the first year of issue of this short-lived type. In fact, Queen Victoria did not like her portrait on this coin, this design was only issued for two years 1887 and 1888. All of the coins on offer are struck in 1887 in Sterling Silver. You have Queen Victoria on one side with a very small crown on her head. This is what she didn’t like because she felt that it made her look silly. On the reverse, you have a crowned set of arms within a Garter. The coins are Extremely Fine.
Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837 and in 1838 they issued her first coinage. Because she was so young when she became Queen, this new coinage became known as Young Head Coins. In 1887 when she celebrated her Gold Jubilee, she finally allowed her portrait to be changed on the coins, this new portrait became known as the Jubilee Head Coinage. It only lasted from 1887 until 1892 when it was again changed. We have spent years accumulating enough 1887 Jubilee Head coins in high grades to offer them to you. All are struck in Sterling Silver and all are dated 1887 the first year of this new coinage. For years collectors have assumed that these coins are common. But in fact in the higher grades these coins have become very difficult to find. Prices while they have risen are still very affordable, especially when you think that they are 131 years old. On offer here is a Victoria 1887 shilling in extremely fine grade.
In the long reign of Queen Victoria there were three main designs used, we have selected the last two, the Jubilee Head and the Old or Widow Head coinage to offer you. Here we are offering the shilling with Jubilee head in Fine. We have at least two grades: Dates will be of our choice depending what we have in stock when the order comes in. But as always fair grading and priced to make them attractive.
In 1887 Queen Victoria celebrated her Golden Jubilee and for the first time in 50 years she allowed her portrait on the coinage to be changed. She hated the portrait on the Shilling so it was only made in 1887 and a few in 1888. We offer nice Fine examples of the Sterling Silver 1887 for your collection. Everyone thinks it is common but this design was only struck for two years and is an important type coin.
During the very long reign of Queen Victoria there were four different major designs of her bust used on the coinage. Here we present the Jubilee Head Shilling in Very Good Condition. Dates will be of our choice, but of course, the more you order, the more different dates we will try to provide.
There were two designs of Queen Victoria Jubilee Head shillings, neither of which Queen Victoria liked. The first was only issued in 1887 & 1888 and has a very small crown on her head, which made her look very big. The second type and the one we are offering you this issue is the Large Head Queen Victoria Jubilee Shilling. Issued from 1889-1892 the Mint enlarged her head to fill the whole side of the shilling, this gave a more pleasing portrait of the Queen. All the coins are struck in Sterling Silver and here we offer the Shilling Fine. Dates are of our choice but the more you order the more different dates we will try and give you.
Victorian Large Jubilee Head Shilling offered in Fine. Dates will be of our choice, the more coins you order the more different dates we will try to provide you.
There were two designs of Queen Victoria Jubilee Head shillings, neither of which Queen Victoria liked. The first was only issued in 1887 & 1888 and has a very small crown on her head, which made her look very big. The second type and the one we are offering you this issue is the Large Head Queen Victoria Jubilee Shilling. Issued from 1889-1892 the Mint enlarged her head to fill the whole side of the shilling, this gave a more pleasing portrait of the Queen. All the coins are struck in Sterling Silver and here we offer the Shilling Very Good. Dates are of our choice but the more you order the more different dates we will try and give you.
The third and last design of the Victorian coinage was the Old Head type issued from 1893- 1901. You have the bust of Queen Victoria wearing a widow’s headdress and the other side has three shields in a circle. The coins are struck in Sterling Silver and were made for every year from 1893-1901. Dates will be of our choice, but the more coins you order, the more different dates we will try and give you. These coins were struck at the end of the longest reign of any British Monarch, although our own Queen is quickly getting close to over taking her. These Queens Shillings are available in different grades to fit more collector’s pockets. The grade offered here is Fair: a lot of wear and some of the lettering may be worn away.
The third and last design of the Victorian coinage was the Old Head type issued from 1893- 1901. You have the bust of Queen Victoria wearing a widow’s headdress and the other side has three shields in a circle. The coins are struck in Sterling Silver and were made for every year from 1893-1901. Dates will be of our choice, but the more coins you order, the more different dates we will try and give you. These coins were struck at the end of the longest reign of any British Monarch, although our own Queen is quickly getting close to over taking her. These Queens Shillings are available in different grades to fit more collector’s pockets. The grade offered here is Very Good: all details present and readable.
The third and last design of the Victorian coinage was the Old Head type issued from 1893- 1901. You have the bust of Queen Victoria wearing a widow’s headdress and the other side has three shields in a circle. The coins are struck in Sterling Silver and were made for every year from 1893-1901. Dates will be of our choice, but the more coins you order, the more different dates we will try and give you. These coins were struck at the end of the longest reign of any British Monarch, although our own Queen is quickly getting close to over taking her. These Queens Shillings are available in different grades to fit more collector’s pockets. The grade offered here us Fine: all details readable and less wear, a very presentable coin.
We have a few Victoria Old Head Shillings in Unc condition for sale. Dates will be of our choice, but you will receive an Old Head Victorian Shilling in Unc condition. Please do not request special dates and remember that stock availability is limited...
The Young Head portrait is the first depiction of Queen Victoria on coins. It was created by the Royal Mint's chief engraver at the time, William Wyon. They introduced it in 1838 and used the portrait until 1895 on bronze coins.
1887 Victoria Jubilee Coinage
In 1887, they changed the design of the silver and gold coins for the Queen's Golden Jubilee. But they only placed the design on the Maundy coinage in 1881. The Jubilee head coinage featured a depiction of Queen Victoria by Joseph Edgar Boehm. In this design the Queen is wearing her small diamond crown, a design choice that was very controversial at the time.
Many numismatists have expressed their dislike for this choice. Including our founder, Richard Lobel, who said that "the small crown placed on the back of the queen's head made her look a bit foolish" in our in our Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins
An important coinage change that occurred during this period was the introduction of the Double Florin.
1893 Victoria Old Head Coinage
The Old Head coinage or Veiled Head coinage featured Queen Victoria wearing a diadem partially hidden by a widow’s veil. The coins of this type were struck between 1893 and 1901, and the portrait on the obverse was designed by Thomas Brock.
New Denominations Introduced in Victorian Coinage
Florin - Gothic & Godless
They made the first Florin in 1849 which was exactly 1/10th of a pound or 0.1 pounds. That denomination still exists today: we call it a 10 Pence Piece. But there were some problems...
They forgot to place ‘Dei Gratia’ – by the grace of God on the coin. So they quickly had to withdraw the coin and issued the Gothic Florin until two years later in 1851. Collectors also know the 1849 Florin as the 'Godless' Florin for that reason. It is only a one-year type coin and very important as our first decimal coin in over a thousand years.
In 1851, they changed the design of the Florin to the Gothic portrait. This new design featured a crowned portrait of the Queen facing left on the obverse, and four crowned coats of arms on the reverse.
What's strange about this coin is its date. At the time a large part of the population was illiterate, but yet, instead of using the numbers we know today as Arabic numerals, they used Roman numerals. This meant that a large part of the populace could not even read the date on the coin. As 1872 became (MDCCC) Ixxii.
Double Florin – the Barmaid’s ruin
They first issued the Double Florin in 1887 for the Queen's Golden Jubilee, and they last issued it in 1890. It gained the nickname "Barmaid's ruin" during its short-lived existence.
The nickname happened because barmaids often made mistakes when giving change. They would give change for a 5 shilling coin instead of change for a 4 shilling coin. This helped to get them to stop making this short-lived denomination.
This coin is the equivalent to a 20p piece in Victorian spending money (Four Sterling Silver Shillings).