1887 Shilling

[Guest Gayle G]

I am looking for information for my mum, she has an 1887 Queen Victoria shilling that was left to her by her dad. She has an old cliping from a local paper about her dad and this coin, that it was withdrawn because The queen did not like her image and the crown was to small. Is this true and is the coin rare and of any value. Thank you.

[Geoff T]

The new design was introduced for gold and silver coins in 1887 for the Queen's golden jubilee and the obverse (heads) has the so-called jubilee head. It was replaced in 1893 by the old head, sometimes referred to as the veiled or widow head (although Victoria had been a widow since 1861).

1887 coins are very common as large numbers were minted. The value of your shilling will depend on its condition, which can be assessed if you post a picture. The only really rare coins from 1887 are the proofs, of which some 1300 sets were issued.

Geoff

[Sylvester]

I am looking for information for my mum, she has an 1887 Queen Victoria shilling that was left to her by her dad. She has an old cliping from a local paper about her dad and this coin, that it was withdrawn because The queen did not like her image and the crown was to small. Is this true and is the coin rare and of any value. Thank you.

There was some controversy over the image of the queen used, it was thought by some that the coin made the queen look foolish due to having such a ridiculously small crown. As for the Queen herself if she disdn't like it then that's because she was quite vein and was not too impressed that her young head portrait that had been in use since 1838 had been replaced by one which made her look older than 21.

Other than that though, the minting authorities paid no attention to any complaints, at least not until 1892 when they started planning the replacement for this design.

[Guest Gayle G]

Thanks for the information, the shilling is in mint condition, i am unable to post a picture as i have not got the coin with me. Thanks again.

[wybrit]

There is a scarcer variety of 1887 shilling. If the "shuttlecock" between the 18 and 87 in the date points to a rim tooth, you have the scarcer version (referenced from Chris's very own Collectors' Coins book, page 42).

[Sylvester]

I used to have one of those in BU, infact i sold that to Chris.*

*I'm beginning to think there isn't a British coin denomination i haven't sold to Chris at some point or other...