1888 Victoria Silver Double Florin Inverted 1 For I Coin

What Is A Double Florin?

Double-Florins are British coins worth four Shillings, struck by the Royal Mint between 1887 and 1890. The Double Florin was close in size to the Crown, and easily confused in a dimly lit pub, leading to the short-lived denomination earning the nickname 'Barmaid's Ruin'.

Browse the range: Queen Victoria Double Florins

Variant With Missing Serif In VICTORIA

These coins all feature Joseph Edgar Boehm's Jubilee Head portrait of Queen Victoria, so called because it was introduced in Victoria's Golden Jubilee year. The inscription reads 'VICTORIA DEI GRATIA' with this variant type replacing the second 'I' in 'VICTORIA' with an upsidedown '1'.

Cruciform Shields Of Arms Reverse

1888 Double Florins have a reverse featuring four crowned royal shields arranged in a cross around a central Garter star. The design by Leonard Charles Wyon shows sceptres between the shields, topped with tiny national emblems. The inscription reads 'REG: 1888 FID: DEF: BRITT:'.

Double Florin Specifications

Double Florins weigh approximately 22.6 grams and measure 36 millimetres from milled edge to milled edge. These British coins are struck in .925 sterling silver.

1888 Double Florin Mintage Figures

With just 243,340 Double-Florins struck in 1888 this year is by far the lowest of the sought-after denomination. It is unknown exactly how many of these coins were struck with the inverted 1 for I variation but it is a fraction of the total issue with this type among the most valuable of the circulated Double-Florins.