Antique English Victorian Silver 1887 Jubilee Half Crown Enamel Coin Brooch
The year 1887 was the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, the 50th anniversary of her reign. A special portrait was commissioned from medalist Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm for a new series of coins from the Royal Mint, production starting that year. It was supposed to be a celebration of the recent rise in public approval of the Queen after retreating from public life during her extended period of mourning - however both Victoria and her subjects hated the portrait due to the realistic depiction of her advancing years, her apparent sour expression and the small, angled crown - this is the Queen Victoria Diamond Crown, also commissioned for the Jubilee. This is a superb example of a half crown coin from the first year of production, Boehm's initials to her shoulder and the other side decorated with bright, celebratory enamels, applied at that time. It's mounted for wear as a brooch with gilded fittings.
It's in excellent condition throughout, with no discernable wear and only the tiniest fleabite to the surface of the enamel - difficult to find. It weighs 13.5 grams and measures 32 mm in diameter. The final photo shows it with a US penny (1 cent) coin for scale, which measures 19 mm / ¾ of an inch diameter. What's more, I offer layaway deals so there's no need to let any of my listings slip through your fingers - just ask! For security all items are stored in a bank's safe deposit box and sent fully insured for peace of mind.