1888 Penny – Victoria

1888 Penny Victoria Obverse

The 1888 Penny - Victoria

1888 Bun Penny of Queen Victoria, so called as the Queen has her hair tied back into a 'bun'. The Obverse and Reverse were designed by Leonard Charles Wyon. SCBC: 3954. Obverse 12, Reverse N. These are large bronze coins with diameter 31mm and a weight of 9.5g.

Bun Pennies are very popular with collectors. They were made 1860-1894 and there are many varieties with 13 obverses and 14 reverses. It was the first bronze penny made by the Royal Mint. They are well documented in Coins of England and the United Kingdom (Pre-Decimal Issues), see Books.

The Obverse, by Leonard Charles Wyon, shows Queen Victoria wearing a wreath of leaves. Her hair is tied with ribbon into a plaited bun. Legend "VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D:" .

The Edge is plain.

The Reverse, by Leonard Charles Wyon, shows Britannia seated on a rock, facing right. She wears a helmet and holds a Union shield. To the left in the background is a lighthouse; to the right a ship. Around "ONE PENNY" with date in exergue.

Image credit: M J Hughes Coins


Mintage: 5,125,020 (may include coins in sets)
Minted at The Royal Mint.
Remember 1888 ?
In UK: Monarch is Queen Victoria. Prime Minister is Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (Conservative). Jack the Ripper kills women in London, known as the Whitechapel murders. Snakes and Ladders is first played in UK, it was originally an Indian game.
In USA: President: Grover Cleveland (D-New York). There is no vice-President. George Eastman founds The Eastman Kodak Company.
Victoria (1837-1901)
Victoria was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she adopted the additional title of Empress of India. Victoria ruled for 64 years, a record only recently surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II.
 
Victoria's parents were Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathern, and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. She married Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who later became known as Prince Albert. Victoria had nine children, the eldest son succeeding her as Edward VII.


Victoria posed for a number of head portraits, but there are generally three major variants: Young Head (1838-1887) by William Wyon, RA; Jubilee Head (1887-1893) by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm and Old Head (1893-1901) by by Sir Thomas Brock.

Category: Penny
The Penny is one of the most famous British coins. The coin itself has been around since 600AD and at various times has been struck in silver, copper and bronze. Originally split into halfpennies and farthing, it is now itself the least denomination coin currently in circulation. Made from copper (actually copper plated steel).

Originally there were 12 pennies in one shilling and 240 pennies in £1; since decimalisation in 1971 there are 100 new pence in one pound.

Composition: Early pennies were Silver, then Copper, Bronze and Copper coated steel.
Which Mint: The Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the designated place for the UK to mint coins. It dates back well over 1000 years and is a Government-owned company. 

Formed in the reign of Alfred the Great about the year 886, during the period 1279-1812 it was generally referred to as The Tower Mint as it was housed at the Tower of London. The Master of The Royal Mint has included famous figures such as Sir Isaac Newton.

Since 2010 it has operated as Royal Mint Ltd, a company owned by HM Treasury, under an exclusive contract to supply all coinage for the UK although it also produces medals and coins for other countries. It is currently located at Llantrisant, Wales.
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
The United Kingdom (UK) is the Union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is often refered to as Great Britain (GBR). It has a long, rich history.

The orignal coinage was Pounds, Shillings and Pence but since decimalisation on 15 February 1971, it is £1 = 100p, that is One Pound = 100 pence. The coinage of the UK is also a long history, the Royal Mint being established as long ago as 886AD when coins were hammered. Today there is perhaps 30 billion coins in circulation, and many (numismatic) collectors coins and sets are issued frequently in gold, silver and other metals.
If you don't see a coin in the list below try the Penny page on eBay UK
As an eBay Partner, We may be compensated if you make a purchase.

List items on:

1888 USA Penny
1888 USA Penny
£ 5.86
1888 One Penny
1888 One Penny
£ 2.50
Old Penny Queen Victoria Bun Head 1888
Old Penny Queen Victoria Bun Head 1888
£ 9.00
VF 1888 One Penny UK GB United Kingdom coin - Victoria
VF 1888 One Penny UK GB United Kingdom coin - Victoria
£ 8.37
PENNIES  (BRONZE ISSUE)  VICTORIA  1860 - 1901 Choose your Date
PENNIES (BRONZE ISSUE) VICTORIA 1860 - 1901 Choose your Date
£ 6.99
Victoria 1888-One Penny Coin-Bun Head-Jack the Ripper Era-As in Pictures
Victoria 1888-One Penny Coin-Bun Head-Jack the Ripper Era-As in Pictures
£ 3.99
1888 Queen Victoria Bun Head One Penny Superb Grade Jack The Ripper Era
1888 Queen Victoria Bun Head One Penny Superb Grade Jack The Ripper Era
£ 38.00
1888 Half Penny  Queen Victoria Bun Jack The Ripper Era Date High Details
1888 Half Penny Queen Victoria Bun Jack The Ripper Era Date High Details
£ 23.00

List items on: