It is impossible to imagine modern Britain without the influence of Queen Victoria and the era of incredible progress and innovation to which she lends her name. In 2019 The Royal Mint celebrated 200 years since her birth. Princess Alexandrina Victoria was born in 1819, rising to the throne as Queen Victoria in 1837 and reigning through a period of unprecedented change. Crowned queen at just 18, Queen Victoria’s first coins were issued in 1838 and featured the ‘Young Head’ portrait by William Wyon RA on the obverse. Issued at the time of her Golden Jubilee in 1887, Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm’s ‘Jubilee Head’ was struck until 1893. That same year, the final portrait, by Sir Thomas Brock RA, was introduced. Referred to as the ‘Old Head’ or ‘Veiled Head’, the design shows Queen Victoria in her crown and veil and was struck until her death in 1901.

This prestigious Sovereign was struck in 1900, the penultimate of Victoria’s reign.

Reverse - the iconic St George and the dragon reverse design by Benedetto Pistrucci

Obverse - Sir Thomas Brock’s ‘Veiled Head’ portrait of Victoria

4,305,904 Sovereigns were struck in Melbourne in 1900 in comparison to 10,846,741 struck in London