Description
Country or authority: United Kingdom
Year or date range: 1853
Denomination: Farthing (¼ penny)
Composition: Copper
Ruler or portrait: Queen Victoria; uncrowned young head facing left
Weight g: 4.72
Mint or mintmark: Royal Mint, London, attributed from the type; no mintmark visible.
Catalogue references: Spink 3950
Obverse description: Legend VICTORIA DEI GRATIA around Victoria’s left-facing head, with hair bound by a double fillet and gathered behind. Date 1853 below; beaded border. Designer’s initials on the neck truncation are not securely readable.
Reverse description: Legend BRITANNIAR: REG: FID: DEF: around helmeted, draped Britannia seated facing right, holding a trident in her left hand and resting her right hand on a Union-pattern shield. Rose, thistle and shamrock arrangement below the ground line; beaded border.
Description and condition notes: Supplied weight: 4.72 g. Brown surfaces with darker patches, scattered scratches and small rim marks. Wear affects the portrait’s hair and other raised details, while the date and main legends remain clear.
