Hi, The coin for today is a Florin from 1849. The coin grades at between EF-UNC and is priced at £225. The Godless Florin of 1849 is an infamous coin. It was so called because omitted the words Dei Gratia (Grace of God) from the design. A very superstitious people, the Victorians thought all manner of ill fortune would follow them. As a result the coin was immediately withdrawn to appear a couple of years later with the words Dei Gratia included. If you would like to see a full list of Florins here is the place to go: ringramcoins/coins/florins.html In 1847 a motion was introduced in Parliament calling for the introduction of a decimal currency and the striking of coins of one-tenth and one-hundredth of a pound.The motion was subsequently withdrawn on the understanding that a one-tenth pound coin would be produced to test public opinion. There was considerable discussion about what the coin should be called, with Centum, Decade, and Dime being among the suggestions, before Florin was eventually settled upon, partly because of its connection with old English coinage, and partly because other European countries also had coins of approximately the same size and weight called Florins. The first Florins were struck in 1849 as Silver coins weighing 11.3 grams and having a diameter of 28 millimetres. The inscription around the obverse read VICTORIA REGINA 1849. The reverse featured four crowned cruciform shields with a rose in the centre, with the shields separated by a rose, thistle, rose, and a shamrock; the inscription on the reverse was ONE FLORIN ONE TENTH OF A POUND. The godless florin may have also been minted in 1850 and 1851 with the date 1849. In 1851, the Florin was redesigned in a most unusual way. The diameter was increased to 30 millimetres, and all the lettering on the coin was in Gothic script, resulting in it being known as the Gothic florin. The date was rendered in Roman numerals. The inscription on the obverse read (e.g.) victoria d g britt reg f d mdcccli ( F D – Fidei Defensor, defender of faith), while the reverse read one florin one tenth of a pound. The Gothic Florin was produced each year until 1887 (mdccclxxxvii). In 1887, to commemorate Queen Victorias Golden Jubilee, a new older Jubilee Head of the queen was used and the various flora were removed from the reverse and replaced by sceptres between the shields and a Garter Star in the centre. The diameter was reduced to 29.5 millimetres. All the inscriptions were in Latin letters and Arabic numerals. The inscription on the obverse read (e.g.) VICTORIA DEI GRATIA, while the reverse read FID DEF BRITT REG date, with no indication of the value. The Jubilee Head issue was released each year between 1887 and 1892. In 1893, a new Old Head showing the veiled head of the queen was introduced, inscribed VICTORIA DEI GRA BRITT REGINA FID DEF IND IMP, together with a completely new reverse showing three shields separated by a rose, shamrock, and thistle surmounted by the Garter crown and inscribed ONE FLORIN TWO SHILLINGS. The diameter was reduced again, to 28.5 millimetres. This issue was released each year between 1893 and 1901. I am thankful to Wikipedia for much of the above
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 08:15:48 +0000
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