Double florin (British coin)
Encyclopedia
The Double Florin was one of the shortest-lived British
coin denominations ever, only being produced during 4 mint years, between 1887 and 1890. The silver coin weighed 22.6 gram (0.79719154357553 oz) and was 36 millimetres (1.4 in) in diameter.
The obverse side of the coin shows a portrait of Queen Victoria
wearing a veil, with the inscription "VICTORIA - DEI GRATIA" (Victoria - By the grace of God), while the reverse side shows four cruciform
-crowned shields bearing the emblems of England (x2), Scotland
, and Ireland
, with sceptre
s between the shields, in the style of Charles II's
gold coins designed by John Roettiers
; the inscription on the reverse reads, "FID DEF BRITT REG date".
The coin was introduced as part of a short-lived attempt at decimalization of the currency, after an earlier attempt had spawned the florin. Since it is equivalent to 20 new pence, the coin was not demonetized as part of the 1971 decimalization
. The coins are not likely spent, though, as the silver content of each coin is worth far more than 20 pence.
The coin acquired the nickname of "Barmaid's Grief" due to its similarity to the slightly larger crown coin (worth 5 shillings, 25% more than the double florin), as neither coin was marked with its denomination and both used an identical portrait of Queen Victoria on the obverse.
Some coins minted in 1887 (the first year) had a Roman 'I' instead of an Arabic '1' in the date. This went unnoticed for a time until corrected, allowing the balance of the mint run to be produced with the correct date. These two variations are worth approximately the same, making the series more interesting for collectors.. Some coins dated 1888 and 1889 have an inverted arabic 1 instead of the second I in VICTORIA as the result of a broken punch.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
coin denominations ever, only being produced during 4 mint years, between 1887 and 1890. The silver coin weighed 22.6 gram (0.79719154357553 oz) and was 36 millimetres (1.4 in) in diameter.
The obverse side of the coin shows a portrait of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
wearing a veil, with the inscription "VICTORIA - DEI GRATIA" (Victoria - By the grace of God), while the reverse side shows four cruciform
Cruciform
Cruciform means having the shape of a cross or Christian cross.- Cruciform architectural plan :This is a common description of Christian churches. In Early Christian, Byzantine and other Eastern Orthodox forms of church architecture this is more likely to mean a tetraconch plan, a Greek cross,...
-crowned shields bearing the emblems of England (x2), Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, with sceptre
Sceptre
A sceptre is a symbolic ornamental rod or wand borne in the hand by a ruling monarch as an item of royal or imperial insignia.-Antiquity:...
s between the shields, in the style of Charles II's
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
gold coins designed by John Roettiers
John Roettiers
John Roettiers was a celebrated British engraver and medallist.Roettiers was the oldest son of Philip Roettiers, a goldsmith of Antwerp. He took up the profession of stonecutter and medallist, with his earliest known productions being dated 1658 and 1660...
; the inscription on the reverse reads, "FID DEF BRITT REG date".
The coin was introduced as part of a short-lived attempt at decimalization of the currency, after an earlier attempt had spawned the florin. Since it is equivalent to 20 new pence, the coin was not demonetized as part of the 1971 decimalization
Decimal Day
Decimal Day was the day the United Kingdom and Ireland decimalised their currencies.-Old system:Under the old currency of pounds, shillings and pence, the pound was made up of 240 pence , with 12 pence in a shilling and 20 shillings in a...
. The coins are not likely spent, though, as the silver content of each coin is worth far more than 20 pence.
The coin acquired the nickname of "Barmaid's Grief" due to its similarity to the slightly larger crown coin (worth 5 shillings, 25% more than the double florin), as neither coin was marked with its denomination and both used an identical portrait of Queen Victoria on the obverse.
Some coins minted in 1887 (the first year) had a Roman 'I' instead of an Arabic '1' in the date. This went unnoticed for a time until corrected, allowing the balance of the mint run to be produced with the correct date. These two variations are worth approximately the same, making the series more interesting for collectors.. Some coins dated 1888 and 1889 have an inverted arabic 1 instead of the second I in VICTORIA as the result of a broken punch.
External links
- Four Shilling Coins on Coins of the UK
- Victoria Double Florin on CoinsGB