Obverse. Photo © Numista
  • 6 Pence 1893-1901, KM# 779, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Victoria
  • 6 Pence 1893-1901, KM# 779, United Kingdom (Great Britain), Victoria
Description

The sixpence (6d), sometimes known as a tanner or sixpenny bit, is a coin that was worth one-fortieth of a pound sterling, or six pence. It was first minted in the reign of Edward VI and circulated until 1980.

Victoria (1819–1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she adopted the additional title of Empress of India. She inherited the throne at the age of 18, after her father's three elder brothers had all died, leaving no surviving legitimate children. Victoria married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in 1840. Their nine children married into royal and noble families across the continent, tying them together and earning her the sobriquet "the grandmother of Europe". Her reign of 63 years and seven months is known as the Victorian era and was longer than that of any of her predecessors. It was a period of industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom, and was marked by a great expansion of the British Empire.

Obverse

Bust of HM Queen Victoria facing left (the 'Old Head' or 'Widow Head' portrait), wearing a diadem partly covered by a veil which falls down onto her shoulder. The emblem of the Order of the Garter on her left above the truncation, partly covered by the veil. A pearl or beaded necklace about her neck with a pendant and a single-drop earrings hangs from her visible ear. Below the shoulder truncation are the engraver's initials.

The Order of the Garter (formally the Most Noble Order of the Garter) is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III in 1348 and regarded as the most prestigious British order of chivalry in England and the United Kingdom. The star, which is worn pinned to the left breast, was introduced in the 17th century by King Charles I and is a colourfully enamelled depiction of the heraldic shield of St. George's Cross, encircled by the Garter, which is itself encircled by an eight-point silver badge. Each point is depicted as a cluster of rays, with the four points of the cardinal directions longer than the intermediate ones.

VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITT REGINA FIDEI DEFENSATRIX INDIAE IMPERATOR means Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the Britains Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India.

Engraver: Thomas Brock

VICTORIA•DEI•GRA•BRITT•REGINA•FID•DEF • IND•IMP•
T.B.

Reverse

Crowned denomination within a wreath of an olive and an oak branch, date below.

The Tudor Crown, also known as the King's Crown or Imperial Crown, is a widely used symbol in heraldry of the United Kingdom. While various crown symbols had been used for this purpose for many years previously, the specific Tudor Crown design was standardised at the request of Edward VII. It was never intended to represent any actual physical crown, although in shape it bears a close resemblance to the small diamond crown of Queen Victoria.

Engraver: Jean Baptiste Merlen

SIX
PENCE
1893

Edge

6 Pence

3rd portrait
KM# 779 Sp# 3941
Characteristics
Material Silver
Fineness 0.925
Weight 2.83 g
Diameter 19.5 mm
Thickness 1.15 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

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