2 great ( I think so anyway) old Victorian Florins
1849 Godless Florin .925, 7.3g, 26mm. Called Godless due to the lack of the words " Dei Gratia " which had been in use on obverse of British coins. This caused a bit of a stir back then in a largely Christian England. To my knowledge this was the first Florin minted in Victoria's reign.
1860 Gothic Florin. .925, 11.3g, 30mm. Called Gothic due to the Roman numerals. The second type of Florin issued in Vic's reign.
I'd take as many old British and US coins as I could get, just love em.:D[attachment=2627][attachment=2628]
Quote from: 'black sheep' pid='38740' dateline='1388656190'To my knowledge this was the first Florin minted in Victoria's reign.
Correct. At 20 shillings to the pound, a 2 shilling coin would be 1/10th of a pound - just like it says on the bottom of the reverse on both the Godless and Gothic types. This was intended to be the first stage of what was supposed to be a step-by-step decimalization of the pound. It only took 118 years for them to take the next step - perhaps in part because of the controversy surrounding the initial release of the florin.
Quote from: 'black sheep' pid='38740' dateline='1388656190'I'd take as many old British and US coins as I could get, just love em.:D
Personally, give me 19th century British coins over 19th century American coins any day. Not only are they more relevant to our own numismatic history, but they are simply better artwork for less money. The dysfunctional American mint management system locked in bad artwork on American coinage, just as the rest of the world - especially Britain - was reaching the zenith of coinage artwork. Yet the high native demand for American coins keeps their prices way higher than coins of comparable commonness in every other national series.
Sapyx, you are absolutely correct about the dysfunction of the American mint management. They try to impress the coin collecting masses with duplicating old designs into modern coinage....Buffalo (nickel....+ 6 other modern Buffalo coins), Walking Liberty (half), Mercury (dime), etc. I've noticed that Britain, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have excellent designs for their modern coins. Just think of this. Niue, a 100 sq. mile (250 sq km) island produced a $1 coin that has a battery AND an itty bitty functioning light bulb IN the coin....you press the obverse and the bulb lights on the reverse. Ingenuity?
You bet, as the U S mint continues to stumble along.
It IS strange that many of the US coins has a fictional character (Liberty) on the obverse and most depictions are of a quite "unfortunate" looking woman.
The exceptions would be the walker and the standing liberty quarter.
The coins from the Victorian era in the UK, Canada and other Commonwealth coins IMHO are some of the best designed coins ever produced :ok:
It's a matter of taste. Many of us would like to see Liberty returned to US coins as opposed to the dead Presidents who are there now.
Thank you John, it is personal taste.
I like the Liberty designs, Barbers, Flying Eagles, Buffaloes and the Peace dollars
I always thought Britannia was also a mythical figure ...an old Roman term, the female personification of the island (England)?:-/
To me it doesn't matter, its like art... you like the design on the coin or you don't JMHO.
I have one of those Godless florins blacksheep
I love it ... Christmas present form the hubby a couple of years back ( a certain irony to that!!)
(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a585/auntyrobbs/godless%20florin%202011/PC180360_zpscf0d0871.jpg)(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a585/auntyrobbs/godless%20florin%202011/PC180361_zpscfe7349a.jpg)
Hi, I reckon that yours is real beauty
Great detail and nice patina
Hubby knows quality when he sees it :winkextra:
"My God", that's lovely.!! :angel:
Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='38795' dateline='1388709408'I have one of those Godless florins blacksheep
I love it ... Christmas present form the hubby a couple of years back ( a certain irony to that!!)
Great coin with a beautiful design. A lot of those silver British coins develop very attractive toning, really collectable.
Here's another, they are so pretty. Robbie that toning is lovely.
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/great-britain-1849-2s-godless-pcgs-ms64.jpg)
wowsa PP
if mine was that grade with the colours then i'd be even happier!
Quote from: 'black sheep' pid='38799' dateline='1388710184'Hi, I reckon that yours is real beauty
Great detail and nice patina
Hubby knows quality when he sees it :winkextra:
I will be cheeky and agree!!!