Queen Victoria Coins

Victorian Coins

Following the death of King William IV in 1837, Victoria became Queen at the age of 18. The only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent (fourth son of King George III), Victoria gained the throne after the uncles ahead of her failed to produce legitimate heirs. Famed for her long reign (the second longest of any British monarch), Queen Victoria ruled the country as the last of the House of Hanover, and oversaw immense change with the Industrial Revolution and the rise of the British Empire.

The early years of her reign were largely influenced by the Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, and her husband Prince Albert. Their marriage produced nine children between the years of 1840 and 1857, most of whom went on to marry into the numerous royal families of Europe.

Following Albert's death at the age of 42, Queen Victoria sank into a state of depression and wore black as a sign of mourning for the remainder of her reign.

Due to the immense expansion of the British Empire during the time of Victoria's rule, Victorian coins were circulated across the globe. Some were even produced in mints that had been set up in colonies such as Australia and Canada. The Queen Victoria Sovereign coin is highly collectible, but other gold and silver Victorian coin types include the shilling, florin and crown.

By Christmas 1900, Queen Victoria was lame with rheumatism and nearly blind from cataracts. In January of 1901 she began to feel weak and soon became dazed and confused. Her son, Edward VII, succeeded her on the throne following her death on January 22nd, 1901 at the age of 81.

Most coins produced during the reign of Queen Victoria featured one of four designs on the reverse, with a portrait of the Queen on the obverse of the coin:

• Shield Back (1838 – 1887)
  Obverse designed by William Wyon (WW), Chief Engraver to the Royal Mint.
  Reverse designed by French engraver Jean Baptiste Merlen (JBM).
• Young Head (1871 – 1887)
  Obverse designed by William Wyon (WW), Chief Engraver to the Royal Mint.
  Reverse designed by Italian medallist Benedetto Pistrucci (BP).
• Jubilee Head (1887 – 1893)
  Obverse designed by Austrian sculptor Joseph Edgar Boehm (JEB).
  Reverse designed by Italian medallist Benedetto Pistrucci (BP).
• Old Head (1893 -1901)
  Obverse designed by English sculptor Thomas Brock (TB).
  Reverse designed by Italian medallist Benedetto Pistrucci (BP).

Other designs include the rare Gothic Crown coin, designed by William Wyon on both sides, and the Cruciform Crown design which featured on the unpopular Double Florins, as designed by Wyon's son, Leonard Charles Wyon.

Looking for additional coins celebrating the monarchy? View our British Monarch Coins page and claim a piece of history for yourself.