Description

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.

There are many obverse and reverse varieties for this type. In 1874, the 2nd portrait was very slightly changed (KM# 755, the D:G: is further away from the Queen's head).

Sp# 3954 (1860-1894) no mintmark on reverse
Sp# 3955 (1874/5/6, 1881/2) 'H' mintmark on reverse below date

KM# 749.1 (1860 only): beaded border, without die number
KM# 749.2 (1860-1874): toothed border, without die number
KM# 749.3 (1863 only): toothed border, with die number below date

Engraver: Leonard Charles Wyon