1887 GB VICTORIA DOUBLE FLORIN

1887 Great Britain Double Florin – Victoria Jubilee Head (Roman ‘I’)

KM# 763 | Spink 3922 | ESC 397 | Bull 2668

Celebrate the grandeur of the Victorian era with this authentic 1887 double florin coin, issued to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. Struck in sterling silver (.925 fine), this historic four-shilling piece features the elegant Jubilee Head portrait by Sir Joseph Boehm, depicting the Queen crowned and facing left. The reverse, engraved by Leonard Charles Wyon, displays four crowned shields arranged in cruciform, representing England, Scotland, and Ireland, with sceptres in the angles and a central Garter Star.

This example is the scarcer Roman ‘I’ date variety, distinguished from the more common Arabic ‘1’. Collectors value this subtle die difference, making it one of the more desirable forms of the 1887 double florin coin.

Specifications:

• Metal: Sterling Silver (.925 fine)

• Weight: 22.62 grams

• Diameter: 36 mm

• Edge: Milled

• Mintage: Approx. 483,300 (combined for both numeral types)

• Condition: Nice

• Price: £50

The Double Florin was a short-lived denomination, issued only from 1887 to 1890. Its close resemblance in size to the crown led to confusion and earned it the nickname “Barmaid’s Ruin,” as mistaken overpayments were common. Today, the 1887 double florin coin remains one of the most recognizable and collectible issues of the Victorian period — admired for its beauty, rarity, and association with Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.

An essential piece for any British silver coin or Queen Victoria collection, this coin offers timeless historical appeal and elegant 19th-century design.