Hello,
I am relatively new to coin collecting so apologies if this has a simple explanation or I am missing something, and/or am not using correct terminology.I recently acquired an 1855 fourpence from a collection which has not been touched for decades - on the reverse is Britannia along with the date and denomination as usual, however the obverse is very different to any fourpence I have seen elsewhere.
Instead of the head of Queen Victoria - as would have been expected - alongside the normal surrounding text it displays a wreath which encompasses the text "
VICTORIA REGINA" (after filling in the gaps). As far as I can see, there is no trace of a monarch's head on this coin, and even if there was I can't understand why the text would be laid out horizontally on top of it.
Does anybody have any ideas? Is this coin even real?
Thank you
Obverse:

Reverse:
(I am aware the date looks like 1853, however after closer inspection with a magnifying lens and a flashlight, it does appear to be a slightly-rubbed-out 5 rather than a 3. I believe the hole at the top is due to it having been worn as a necklace or something similar by one of my ancestors).