1881 CANADA 25 CENTS – VICTORIA – HEATON MINT

The 1881 Canada 25 Cents – Heaton Mint (H#) is one of the most desirable Victorian Canadian quarters. Struck in Birmingham (Heaton Mint) rather than Ottawa, it carries the distinctive H mintmark below the date. Heaton‑struck Canadian coins were produced in smaller quantities and are highly sought after by collectors.

Struck in .925 sterling silver, this issue features the elegant laureate portrait of Queen Victoria and the iconic crowned maple‑leaf wreath reverse used across Canadian silver denominations of the era.

Obverse

Laureate portrait of Queen Victoria facing left, with the Latin legend: VICTORIA DEI GRATIA REGINA (Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen)

Reverse

A crowned wreath of maple leaves encircling the denomination 25 CENTS, with the date 1881 below. A small H mintmark appears beneath the date, denoting the Heaton Mint.

Historical Notes

• Scarcer Heaton Mint issue (H#), produced in lower quantities than Ottawa‑struck coins.
• Part of the Victorian sterling‑silver series (5c, 10c, 25c, 50c).
• Highly collectable due to mintmark, age, fineness, and crowned‑wreath design.
• Represents Canada’s early national coinage period following Confederation.

Specifications

• Country: Canada
• Denomination: 25 Cents
• Year: 1881
• Mint: Heaton Mint (H#)
• Monarch: Victoria
• Metal: .925 Silver
• Weight: 5.83 g
• Diameter: 23.62 mm
• Edge: Reeded
• Obverse: Laureate bust of Queen Victoria left
• Obverse Legend: VICTORIA DEI GRATIA REGINA
• Reverse: Crowned maple‑leaf wreath with H mintmark
• Mintage: 200,000 (Heaton Mint mintage)
• KM: 7
• Charlton: 25¢‑1881H

SEO Tags: Canada, 25 cents, 1881, Heaton Mint, H mintmark, Victoria, .925 silver, Crowned maple‑leaf wreath, Canadian quarter, Victorian coinage, Sterling silver, Commonwealth coinage, Numismatics