Description
Denomination: Silver sixpence
Period: Victorian
Date: 1890
Origin: London mint
Condition: EF (almost uncirculated) with lustre. rarer date
Obverse: Crowned Jubilee head. J.E.B initials on trunk. left. legend around
Reverse: Crowned mark of value within wreath. date below
Size and Weight: 19mm. 2.84g
References: Sear 3929
Features and Provenance: Victoria was born in 1819 and enjoyed the longest reign of any British monarch until. that is. Elizabeth II. This long reign resulted in an extensive coinage in gold. silver and copper. Additional mints were opened too. in Australia. to produce gold sovereigns. The coinage can be split into three distinct head types: the young head. of which our shilling is an example; the Jubilee head and the ‘old’ head. The young head. showing the Queen with her hair in a bun was used until she was 68! For her 50th year on the throne in 1887. the head was updated showing her wearing her smaller imperial crown which she had made in 1870 so she could wear it on state occasions over her widow’s cap (Albert. her beloved husband. had died in 1861). The final bust. issued in 1895. shows a mature Victoria. veiled. She died in 1901 at the age of 82.
It is said that Prince Albert introduced the tradition of putting a silver sixpence in the Christmas pudding but it may go back to the Twelfth Night cakes. The pudding would be made at Advent and each member of the family would stir the pudding. Once it was cooked and eaten on Christmas day. if you found the sixpence in your piece you would have good luck all the next year – as long as you didn’t swallow it! If you follow this tradition please cover it in foil. Small children should be supervised and a thorough search of the pudding should be made before eating. Merry Christmas.
Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between
Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear
Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear
Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn
Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.