Victoria Young Head (Bun) Coinage (1880 - 1895)

This page was last updated on: March 28, 2024 1:28 PM

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Introduction

In December 1860, copper coinage was replaced by bronze, a change which had already been made in France in 1852. The old copper coins could be handed back up to the end of 1869 at 102% of face value; thereafter, up to July 30th 1873, only at face value. The bronze coins were made of 95% copper, 4% tin (to harden the copper) and 1% zinc (to facilitate good castings).

PictureDate DESCRIPTION Price  
1895 Young Head. Near VF, rare £15.00
Click here to view picture 1895 Young Head. GVF £35.00

Note on 1893

The Wider Date type, which is common, embraces 14 border teeth from the centre of the 1 to the centre of the 3.

The Closer Spaced Date type embraces 13 teeth and accounts for about 15% of the 1893 issue, though examples in high grade are very elusive.

Note on 1889: As we are frequently asked for this date, perhaps it is worth mentioning here that this date does not exist in the Farthing series.

PictureDate DESCRIPTION Price  
1893 Wider Date. BMC 1923. S3958. EF, good lustre £10.00
Click here to view picture 1892 BMC 1921. S3958. GEF, with some lustre on both sides. £75.00
1891 NVF/VF £2.50
1891 VF £2.75
Click here to view picture 1890 BMC 1917. S3958. Almost Unc good lustre £30.00
1886 NVF £0.90
1886 GVF £2.00
1886 Near EF £2.25
1886 Unc traces of lustre £9.00
1886 Unc lustre £10.00
1886 BMC 1913. S3958. Almost Unc with good lustre £10.00
1886 Unc good lustre £15.00
Click here to view picture 1886 BMC 1913. S3958. BU Almost Full Lustre £28.00
Click here to view picture 1886 BU Full Lustre, lightly toning £32.00
Click here to view picture 1886 BU Full Lustre, lightly toning £32.00
1885 BMC 1911. S3958. EF with traces of lustre £8.00
1884 VF £1.50
Click here to view picture 1884 A/Unc lustre £18.00
Click here to view picture 1884 BMC 1909. S3958. Unc traces of lustre £20.00

Note on 1883

The Broken F type has a gap in the top, horizontal stroke, caused by a broken or damaged die; it accounts for only about 20% of 1883 farthings, so it is quite rare, given that 1883 is a rarer date anyway.

PictureDate DESCRIPTION Price  
Click here to view picture 1883 Perfect F in FD. BMC 1907. S3958. GEF, traces of lustre £55.00

Note on 1882H.

Again, the Broken F is seen for this date. However, this time it is the Perfect F which is rarer and occurs in about 25% of the 1882H farthings. Also, it is interesting to note how tiny the H (= Heaton) mintmark is when compared to 1881H or 1874/5/6H coins.

PictureDate DESCRIPTION Price  
Click here to view picture 1882H Broken F in FD. BMC --. S3959. Almost Unc with good lustre £35.00

Note on 1881H:

To view detailed descriptions of the 1881H varieties, including large close-up images for each type, click here.

PictureDate DESCRIPTION Price  

Note on 1881:

Most collectors have difficulty distinguishing between Obverse 7 and Obverse 6. There are several differences but we find the easiest is not to look at the shape of the nose but to look at the nostril.

On Obverse 6 the nostril is a small, deeply-cut, oval, closed at both ends.

On Obverse 7 the nostril is longer and "open" at the right hand end.

This difference is observable in all grades from Fine upwards.

PictureDate DESCRIPTION Price  
Click here to view picture 1881 3 Berries. Obverse 7. Bent nose, open nostril. BMC 1902. S3958. Almost Unc with traces of lustre £40.00

Note on 1880:

Most 1880 ¼ds have a weakly struck patch on the hair and a dimple centrally on the neck; both are interesting striking faults. (Note: this dimple occurs for quite a number of other dates as well, for example, 1883.)

The second 8 of the date can also be found as an "open-topped" 8.

PictureDate DESCRIPTION Price  

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