Posted 02/02/2022 1:16 pm
Just to help out, I can show my 1868 shilling as well.
This one is EF, so shows up well - believe me its my ONLY EF shilling of this era.
I agree with the other posts - straighter nose and the portrait is a bit finer cut. Her eyes have no bags - nose has a strong bridge and mouth looks delicate with thinner lips.
Here is a gVF 1881 shilling with the 4th later portrait
It has the crooked string nose and also a bag under her eye. the portrait is cruder. Thick neck and the Queens lips seem thicker, to give her a more "crone" like appearance.
Your coin is 4th portrait for 3 major reasons
1. No die number, 3rd portrait ones have die numbers.
2. 1879 3rd portrait coins are extremely rare with my catalogue stating a VF one at £200 compared to £20 for the 4th portrait.
3. The Queen's lower neck is thicker and bulkier looking.
(The font was not changed and the lettering is quite crude, notice the Crooked alignment of the last A in "Gratia".
All these young head silver coins had a stunning portrait on the first portraits of 1838 to 1850s and slightly less nice on the 2nd heads, the 3rd and 4th heads were quite crude and worn after 30 - 40 years of use.
A good example is the late era Young Head Halfcrowns (1874 - 1887) compared to the earlier ones (1838 - 1850).
The problem with YH viccies is that she wears badly once you hit the VF's and even eye detail is gone by gFine. DavidC I would put your coin at gVG or so. Decent but easy for people to assume it could be either one.
Source of my info - "Collectors Coins GB 2020 by Coin Publications" - Their pricing is more conservative than the Seaby and Coincraft/Coin Annual catalogues.
This one is EF, so shows up well - believe me its my ONLY EF shilling of this era.
I agree with the other posts - straighter nose and the portrait is a bit finer cut. Her eyes have no bags - nose has a strong bridge and mouth looks delicate with thinner lips.
Here is a gVF 1881 shilling with the 4th later portrait
It has the crooked string nose and also a bag under her eye. the portrait is cruder. Thick neck and the Queens lips seem thicker, to give her a more "crone" like appearance.
Your coin is 4th portrait for 3 major reasons
1. No die number, 3rd portrait ones have die numbers.
2. 1879 3rd portrait coins are extremely rare with my catalogue stating a VF one at £200 compared to £20 for the 4th portrait.
3. The Queen's lower neck is thicker and bulkier looking.
(The font was not changed and the lettering is quite crude, notice the Crooked alignment of the last A in "Gratia".
All these young head silver coins had a stunning portrait on the first portraits of 1838 to 1850s and slightly less nice on the 2nd heads, the 3rd and 4th heads were quite crude and worn after 30 - 40 years of use.
A good example is the late era Young Head Halfcrowns (1874 - 1887) compared to the earlier ones (1838 - 1850).
The problem with YH viccies is that she wears badly once you hit the VF's and even eye detail is gone by gFine. DavidC I would put your coin at gVG or so. Decent but easy for people to assume it could be either one.
Source of my info - "Collectors Coins GB 2020 by Coin Publications" - Their pricing is more conservative than the Seaby and Coincraft/Coin Annual catalogues.
Edited by Princetane
02/02/2022 11:49 pm
02/02/2022 11:49 pm
