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1889 Victoria Silver Double Florin Inverted 1 For I Coin

1889 Victoria Silver Double Florin Inverted 1 For I Coin Reverse
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1889 Victoria Silver Double Florin Inverted 1 For I Coin Reverse
1889 Victoria Silver Double Florin Inverted 1 For I Coin Obverse

Buy a 1889 Victoria Silver Double Florin Inverted 1 For I Coin

Missing serif 1889 Victorian silver Double Florins (S 3923, Bull 2702, ESC 398A). These fascinating British coins feature Joseph Edgar Boehm's Jubilee Head portrait of Queen Victoria on the obverse with a tiny error in the inscription. The second 'I' in 'VICTORIA' appears to be missing its lower left serif and so appears like an upside down '1'. Likely the result of a filled die, this error remains a sought-after one among those looking to collect the small Double Florin series. Since these coins were only issued between 1887 and 1890, such variants add variety to a denomination that represents a fascinating episode in the history of UK currency.

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Description Summary Specification

What Is A Double Florin?

Double-Florins are British coins worth four Shillings, struck by the Royal Mint between 1887 and 1890. The Double Florin was close in size to the Crown, and easily confused in a dimly lit pub, leading to the short-lived denomination earning the nickname 'Barmaid's Ruin'.

Browse the range: Queen Victoria Double Florins

Inverted 1 For I In VICTORIA Obverse

This 1889 Double Florin variant has a tiny error to the obverse inscription which reads 'VICTORIA DEI GRATIA'. The second 'I' in 'VICTORIA' is missing a serif on the bottom left, likely the result of a filled die. The portrait of Queen Victoria is Joseph Edgar Boehm's controvercial Jubilee Head, showing the Queen wearing a small crown.

Crowned Cruciform Shield Of Arms

1889 Double Florins feature a reverse by Leonard Charles Wyon, which includes four shields of royal arms arranged in a cruciform pattern with sceptres in the angles and a Garter star in the centre. The inscription reads 'REG: 1889 FID: DEF: BRITT:'.

Double Florin Specifications

Double Florins weigh approximately 22.6 grams and measure 36 millimetres from milled edge to milled edge. These British coins are struck in .925 sterling silver.

How Many Double Florins Were Struck In 1889?

1889 is the highest mintage year for the Double-Florin, with 1,185,111 issued by the Royal Mint. It is unknown exactly how many of these coins were struck with the inverted 1 for I variation, but it is a small fraction of the total issue, and this type is among the most sought-after of the circulated Double-Florins.