1887 Half Crown

Quick Facts About 1887 Half Crown

• Description: Half Crown with Queen Victoria on Obverse
• Occasion: Golden Jubilee
• In circulation: 1887-1892
• Composition: Silver (.925)
• Catalog reference: KM 764, S3924

A 1707 half-crown coin in VF condition. 

The history behind the 1887 Half Crown (Victoria) Coin

Queen Victoria (1819-1901) was the longest reigning monarch in British history, with a 63 year reign (1837-1901), until Queen Elizabeth II. The daughter of Prince Edward and Princess Victoria, she inherited the throne after her three elder brothers died without children. Her Golden Jubilee was celebrated on 20 June 1887, exactly 50 years after her accession. She invited 50 European foreign kings and princes to a banquet. 

The half crown coin was minted as part of a series of coins designed in honour of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. The public did not like the design of the coin, particularly the obverse featuring the Queen’s bust. It would be replaced in 1893. 

About the 1887 Half Crown (Victoria) Coin

The 1887 Half Crown was used from 1887 until 1892. 

Obverse

The obverse of the 1887 Half Crown features the veiled and crowned bust of Queen Victoria, looking to the left. This veiled and crowned depiction of the Queen is known as the ‘Jubilee Head.’ The legend has the text ‘VICTORIA DEI GRATIA’, Latin for ‘Victoria by the Grace of God.’ 

It was engraved by Joseph Edgar Boehm (1834 – 1890), an Austrian medallist and sculptor. After working as a medallist in Vienna, he received the Austrian Imperial Prise for Sculpture. From there he moved to England in 1862, creating a statue of Queen Victoria for Windsor Castle, among other royal monuments. In 1887, Boehm was allowed to design and create the dies for a coin series commemorating the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. The design was adapted from Boehm’s own Jubilee medal. 

Reverse

The reverse features a shield of arms quartered and crowned surrounded by a garter. The lettering around the edge of coin reads ‘BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID DEF’, meaning ‘Queen of the Britains Defender of the Faith.’ The garter contains the text, ’HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE,’ meaning, ‘Shame on he who thinks evil of it’. The year is at the bottom, divided by the garter. 

This side was engraved by Leonard Charles Wyon (1826-1891), a British engraver. Wyon was the son of the Royal Mint’s chief engraver, William Wyon. Talented from a young age and through the tutelage of his father, the younger Wyon was already impressive, already creating several medals by age sixteen. Beyond the Golden Jubilee dies, LC Wyon also created the dies for coins and medals used through the British Empire. 

Edge

The edge of the coin has no lettering and is reeded. 

How Much is the 1887 Half Crown (Victoria) Coin Worth?

Depending on the variant and condition of the coin, the 1887 Half Crown coins will be around £450 – £795. With Chancery Coins, you can be sure you’re getting a fair value on our professionally graded coins. An exceptional coin with a small, unusual characteristic has been sold for £1300.

How Many 1887 Half Crown (Victoria) Coins Were Made in Circulation?

The mintage figure for the 1887 Half Crown is about 14,900,000. The Proof 1887 Half Coin has a mintage figure of 1,000. 

Other Versions of the 1887 Half Crown (Victoria) Coin

The 1887 Half Crown design is the generally same throughout the five years of its use. Collectors will notice minute differences with the details but there are no official variants created by the Royal Mint.