Posted 09/15/2007 10:29 am
To clarify what Peter said: yes, it's a shilling. Should be about quarter-sized? The sixpence (about dime-sized) and halfcrown (about half-dollar sized) issued in 1887 had very similar designs to the shilling, but if you put pics side-by-side you can tell the difference. 1887 was a transition year; some coins were issued with the earlier, youthful portrait ("young head") and others with this new design commemorating Victoria's 50th year of reign ("jubilee head").
Coin looks about American EF grade, possibly better; catalogues at $12 in that grade.
Trivia time:
The 1880's were the high point of British munismatic art, and the coins of the period are exquisitely detailed. You can clearly see on the reverse pic the colours on the coat of arms, rendered in traditional Petra-Sancta style, with the top left and bottom right quadrants (England) in red, top right (Scotland) in yellow and bottom left (Ireland) and the looped belt in blue. The belt is the symbol of the Order of the Garter, England's oldest and most exclusive knighthood. The motto is the motto of the Order, in Old French (not Latin) which translates roughly to "shame upon him who thinks evil of it".
Coin looks about American EF grade, possibly better; catalogues at $12 in that grade.
Trivia time:
The 1880's were the high point of British munismatic art, and the coins of the period are exquisitely detailed. You can clearly see on the reverse pic the colours on the coat of arms, rendered in traditional Petra-Sancta style, with the top left and bottom right quadrants (England) in red, top right (Scotland) in yellow and bottom left (Ireland) and the looped belt in blue. The belt is the symbol of the Order of the Garter, England's oldest and most exclusive knighthood. The motto is the motto of the Order, in Old French (not Latin) which translates roughly to "shame upon him who thinks evil of it".
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
