Description

The British florin, or two shilling coin, was issued from 1849 until 1970. Given the unpopularity of the Jubilee Head, in 1893, the portrait on Victoria coins was changed again, to an older portrait, showing Victoria with a veiled head.

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

Depicts a crown above three escutcheons of England (upper-left), Scotland (upper-right) and Ireland (bottom) between the floral emblems (Scottish Thistle, English Rose and Northern Irish Shamrock). Behind are a pair of crossed sceptres, one bearing an eagle on an orb, the other a cross on an orb. The motto HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE appears on a circular belt. Value above, date below. For the first time on a florin, the value "Two Shillings" appears.

Honi soit qui mal y pense is a French maxim used as the motto of the British chivalric Order of the Garter. It is translated as "May he be shamed who thinks badly of it".

Engraver: Edward Poynter

ONE•FLORIN+ TWO•SHILLINGS
• 18 95
•HONI • SO T • Q MAL Y • PENSE •

Edge

1 Florin (2 Shillings)

3rd portrait, Old Head
KM# 781 Sp# 3939
Characteristics
Material Silver
Fineness 0.925
Weight 11.31 g
Diameter 28.3 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

Related coins

Godless Florin

Silver, 11.31 g, ⌀ 28 mm
Gothic Florin

Silver, 11.31 g, ⌀ 30 mm
Jubilee Head

Silver, 11.31 g, ⌀ 29.5 mm