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.
Victoria came to the throne a very young woman, she was only 18 when she became Queen. Her first coins carried a very youthful portrait of Queen Victoria a portrait carried on for the next 50 years. The Shilling was struck in Sterling Silver and because they were used every day, they come well-circulated. We offer them here in Fair conditio; remember that the newest coin is now 130 years old. Dates will be of our choice, but the more you order the more different dates we will try and give you.
Victoria came to the throne a very young woman, I believe she was only 18 when she became Queen. Her first coins carried a very youthful portrait of Queen Victoria a portrait carried on for the next 50 years. The Shilling was struck in Sterling Silver and because they were used every day, they come well circulated. We can offer them in two grades, Fair and Very Good but remember that the newest coin is now 130 years old. Dates will be of our choice, but the more you order the more different dates we will try and give you.
We have a nice little box full of Queen Victoria 1887 Jubilee Head Shillings. These are coins that we would call About Uncirculated and we guess most coin dealers would call Uncirculated. As they have come in, in collections and purchases over the counter, we have placed them in my little box. They are almost nice enough to be called Uncirculated, but they are too nice to just sell as Extremely Fine, if you know what we mean. They are struck in Sterling Silver and this design was only used for two years, 1887 and 1888. The coins are very nice and we think you will like the price as well, but remember it is only a little box and supplies are limited…
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 choice uncirculated grade.
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 uncirculated grade.
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).
