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CYPRUS, QUEEN VICTORIA, 1887 CIRCULATION COINS

Category:  World Coins
Owner:  TMS Coins
Last Modified:  10/17/2013
Set Description
CYPRUS, QUEEN VICTORIA, 1887 CIRCULATION COINS.

Cyprus was under British Administration from 1878-1960 when it became independent Republic. The "piastre coinage" made its appearance in 1879. The copper piastre became the unit of currency and was fixed at the rate of 180 to the British gold sovereign. The gold sovereign became the standard measure of value and remained the coin of unlimited legal tender throughout the period from 1878-1960. During the reign of Queen Victoria, the half-sovereign was also legal tender, demonitized though from the 1st May 1901.


Slot Name
Origin/Country
Item Description
Full Grade
Owner Comments
Pics
View Coin   CYPRUS 1P 1887 NGC MS 64 RD CYPRUS, QUEEN VICTORIA 1 PIASTRE 1887.

OBVERSE: Young head of Victoria facing left and wearing a coronet ornamented with oak leaves and scrolls.
REVERSE: 1 within a beaded circle.
ENGRAVER: Leonard Charles Wyon.
DIAMETER: 32 mm
WEIGHT: 11.66 g
EDGE: Plain.
METAL COMPOSITION: Copper 95%, Tin 4%, Zinc 1%.
MINTAGE: 45,000
RARITY: Common.

1887 PIASTRE MS 64 RD

A superb example with gorgeous eye appeal.
Brilliant and attractive with full strike, clear surfaces and flashy red original luster.
NGC: Tied with one other as finest known in RED.
View Coin   CYPRUS 1/2P 1887 NGC MS 64 RB CYPRUS, QUEEN VICTORIA 1/2 PIASTRE 1887.

OBVERSE: Young head of Victoria facing left and wearing a coronet ornamented with oak leaves and scrolls.
REVERSE: 1/2 within a beaded circle.
ENGRAVER: Leonard Charles Wyon.
DIAMETER: 27.5 mm.
WEIGHT: 5.83 g
EDGE: Plain.
METAL COMPOSITION: Copper 95%, Tin 4%, Zinc 1%.
MINTAGE: 60,120
RARITY: Common.

1887 1/2 PIASTRE MS 64 RB

Beautiful example of Victoria's Jubilee year 1/2 piastre.
Very well struck with perfect surfaces and original luster in and around the devices.
View Coin   CYPRUS 1/4P 1887 NGC MS 65 RB CYPRUS, QUEEN VICTORIA 1/4 PIASTRE 1887.

OBVERSE: Young head of Victoria wearing a coronet ornamented with oak and scrolls.
REVERSE: 1/4 within a beaded circle.
ENGRAVER: Leonard Charles Wyon.
DIAMETER: 21.8 mm
WEIGHT: 2.91 g
EDGE: Milled.
METAL COMPOSITION: Copper 95%, Tin 4%, Zinc 1%.
MINTAGE: 59,760
RARITY: Common in any grade.

1887 1/4 PIASTRE MS 65 RB

Victoria's Jubilee year 1/4 piastre in beautiful bright red-brown colour. Full strike with perfect surfaces and original luster.
NGC: Tied with eight other specimens for finest graded in RB.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901 1SOV 1887 G.britain JUBILEE HEAD NGC MS 65 GT.BRITAIN, VICTORIA, Jubilee head, 1887 GOLD SOVEREIGN
(Marsh 125; S 3866B).

OBVERSE: The Jubilee bust of the Queen facing left wearing a small crown, veiled and with ribbon; top cross on crown meets border, j.e.b. fully on truncation, angled J.
REVERSE: The Pistrucci's design of St. George slaying the Dragon with sword; horse with short tail, date in exergue, tiny b.p. to upper right, all stops present,
DESIGNER: Joseph Edwar Boehm.
DIAMETER: 22.05mm
WEIGHT: 7.998g
FINENESS: 22 carat.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 1,111,280.
RARITY: N (M.Marsh)

1887 was the Jubilee year for the fiftieth anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession.

VICTORIA, SOVEREIGN, 1887.

Preparations for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee of 1887 were underway years in advance. The Queen herself had first signified that she was willing for a change in portrait on the coinage as she had been most impressed by a portrait medal of her effigy by Mr Joseph Edgar Boehm RA (6 July 1834 - 12 December 1890) modelled from life. A large plaster model was prepared by Boehm in his studio, and from this metal copies were taken and then reduced for coinage. The first proposed coinage patterns appear from 1880 in base metals and silver, the Queen having sat for her portrait with Boehm in February of that year. The resulting currency coinage produced for 1887 included a commemorative gold Five Pound and Two Pound coin issued together for the first time since 1826. There were sets available in various guises officially for sale as proof or currency quality, with cases costing extra. The Jubilee coinage also marks for the first time in the British currency coinage the die axis being upright (en médaille). All die axes previously on coinage were of the inverted orientation and upright axis was reserved for medals or patterns. The obverse legend appears slightly more abbreviated than the last young head issue too. Apart from this, and the obvious bust change, the coinage is very similar to the previous young head St George type with a milled edge. The story of the gestation of the coinage was revealed in a series of Royal Mint correspondence, the elements of which have been published in the British Numismatic Journal by G P Dyer and Mark Stocker in 1984. What can be seen is that the resulting currency coins were received with mixed reaction from the public, much to the consternation of C W Fremantle, the Deputy Master of the Mint who had fully supported the design. The populous accepted the change in celebration of the Jubilee, but more seriously criticism of the design was given by critics at the Royal Academy for the way the crown appeared upon the Queen’s head, and the coinage was much discussed in Parliament. Comments ranged from such as “this toy crown” and “too small to be realistic,” as had the Queen turned or moved the crown would have tumbled from her head. More seriously, the Sixpence and Half-Sovereign coins being of similar dimensions and unfortunately of similar design, meant the Sixpences were quickly gilt by the unscrupulous and passed as gold coins. The Numismatic Society again were vocal about this, saying that the Mint had a precedent in 1821 when the Half Sovereign design had to be changed after one year as it was too similar to the sixpence. In 1887 the Sixpence became the withdrawn coin and the reverse design regressed to what it was before. The Numismatic Society and its President Sir John Evans, amongst others, continued to criticise the designs and the Jubilee portrait only lasted on British coins from 1887-1892 inclusive. Even the Queen herself had remarked on her displeasure of this coinage during 1888. In Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, the portrait continued briefly into 1893 on the gold coins. Boehm having died in 1890 was no longer around to see the change so soon after the Jubilee, and the criticism received may well have contributed to his demise, though he was kept very busy with his sculpture work.

QUEEN VICTORIA

The reign of Queen Victoria (House of Hanover): 1837-1901.
Born: 24 May 1819.
Accession: 20 June 1837.
Married: Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 10 February 1840.
Coronation: Thursday 28 June 1838.
Children: four sons, five daughters.
Died: 22 January 1901, aged 81.

1887 GOLD SOVEREIGN MS 65

A true GEM with superb detailed strike, satiny luster and hardly any abrasions.
NGC Pop 7 (Nov.16 2013) with none grading higher.
Purchased from ebay 17 July 2012.
View Coin   GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901 1/2SOV 1887 G.britain JUBILEE HEAD NGC MS 66 GT. BRITAIN, VICTORIA Jubilee Head, GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN 1887 with JEB.
(Marsh 478; S 3869).

OBVERSE: The bust of the Queen facing left wearing a small crown, veiled and with ribbon and Star of the Garter and the Victoria and Albert order. Boehm's initials J.E.B. are shown in relief at the bottom rear of the bust.
REVERSE: The Ensigns Armorial of the United Kingdom within a garnished shield surmounted by an imperial crown.
DESIGNER: Joseph Edwar Boehm (1834-1890).
DIAMETER: 19.4 mm.
WEIGHT: 3.994 g.
FINENESS: 22 carat.
MILLESIMAL FINENESS: 916.66.
EDGE: Milled.
MINTAGE: 841,200
RATING: S (M.Marsh).

1887 GOLD HALF-SOVEREIGN MS 66
NGC 2601713-002

A grand example of this iconic issue with Victoria's new bust design commemorating her 50 years of reign, boasting lovely golden honey coloration and pristinely preserved surfaces.
Common in AU and baggy UNC, but this piece is amazing.
Fully struck with gorgeous luster over satiny surfaces, and best of all deep iridescent gold color, creating elegant eye appeal.

NGC: Pop 9 with none grading higher.

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