How to collect Double Florins
You can see Double Florins on eBay UK (affiliate link)Double Florins (4 shilling, 4/-) were only made from 1887 until 1890, making it one of the shortest lived coins in British history. It is a large coin with a 36mm diameter, just 2mm smaller than a Crown.
Double Florins are not too expensive to buy, you may be lucky and get one on eBay for less than £20 in fair condition.
Double Florins (4 shilling, 4/-) were only made from 1887 until 1890, making it one of the shortest lived coins in British history. It is a large coin with a 36mm diameter, just 2mm smaller than a Crown.Which Double Florins to look for?
The lowest mintage Double Florins are:(These are coins in our database, list may not be exhustive)
- 1888 Double Florin - Victoria (mintage: 243,340)
- 1887 Double Florin - Victoria (mintage: 483,347)
- 1890 Double Florin - Victoria (mintage: 782,146)
- 1889 Double Florin - Victoria (mintage: 1,185,111)
Coins in the Double Florins Category
 | Victoria (1837-1901) |
More Information about Double Florin coins for Collectors
The Double Florin was only minted from 1887 to 1890, making it one of the shortest lived denomination in British coin history. It was denominated at 4 shillings (4/-). It is a large coin, 36mm in diameter and weighing 22.6g of 0.925 silver.All four years years had the Obverse of Queen Victoria's Jubilee Head by Joseph Boehm. The edge was milled. The Reverse shows four cruciform crowned shields, two for England (3 Lions), Scotland (Single Lion) and Ireland (Harp). The reverse is in the style of Charles II gold coins designed by John Roettiers (1631–1703).
It's still Legal Tender for 20p
The old British monetary system was 12 pence to the shilling and 20 shillings to a pound. It was confusing to say the least and although decimalisation didn't occur until 1971, the Victorians decided to have a partial attempt at it. First was the Florin, which was then 2 shilling (10p in new pence) or one tenth of a pound. The Double Florin was introduced in 1887 at 4 shillings, equivalent to a 20p coin in new pence. The decimalisation idea just ran out of steam.
Strangely enough the Double Florin has never been demonetised and the coin still has a spending value of 20p, although the silver content and numismatic value of the coin is considerably higher.
Double Florins were Unpopular
The coin was short lived for several reasons. It was a high value coin and there wasn't really a need for a Double Florin (4 shillings) and a Crown (5 shillings).
Maybe the biggest problem was how similar the Double Florin and the Crown were. Identical Portraits, neither had the value on the coin and only 2mm difference in diameter. In 1887 the Crown was worth equivalent to £30 in today's money, and the Double Florin would be about £24. Imagine being in a candlelit or gaslit pub and having payment with one of these coins? Get it wrong and it was a costly mistake. That is why the Double Florin is sometimes referred to as "The Barmaids Grief" or "The Barmaid's Curse".