Celebrate one of the great milestones of the Victorian age with this official Royal Mint issue from 1897, created to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Struck in silver and measuring 57 mm across, this handsome medal brings together the two portraits that best define Victoria’s long reign: the youthful Young Head and the mature Jubilee Head, symbolising the remarkable span from 1837 to 1897.

The obverse presents the queen in her later years, wearing the draped crown and facing left. The surrounding Latin inscription records the happy completion of her sixtieth year on the throne, a moment of national pride and imperial celebration. Designed by Thomas Brock and engraved by George William de Saulles, the portrait has the dignity and refinement collectors expect from an official Royal Mint commemorative. The reverse returns to Victoria’s earlier likeness, the celebrated Young Head by William Wyon, a design that collectors will instantly recognise as one of the most enduring portraits in British coinage.

This contrast between youth and age gives the medal its special appeal. It tells the story of a reign that shaped the modern British state, while also showing the continuity of Royal Mint artistry across the Victorian era. The reverse legend, drawn from Proverbs, adds a thoughtful and fitting message to a medal created for such a historic occasion. For collectors, the combination of two great designers, two iconic portraits and an official Royal Mint issue makes this a particularly satisfying piece.

Its substantial silver format gives it real presence in the hand, while the large diameter allows the detail of both portraits to be fully appreciated. Medals of this type were widely admired at the time and remain highly collectable today, especially in official Mint form. This example offers a fine balance of beauty, history and craftsmanship, making it an appealing piece for anyone with an interest in Queen Victoria, royal commemoratives or nineteenth-century medallic art.