Collectors Guide
Victoria Double Florin
The Victoria double florin, or four-shilling piece, was introduced in 1887 as part of the Jubilee coinage and continued until 1890. Struck in sterling silver, it remains one of the most distinctive and short-lived denominations of the Victorian series. This page provides an overview of the Victoria double florin series, including its specifications, design, brief circulating history, and year-by-year reference images.
Introduction
The Victoria Double Florin was struck from 1887 to 1890 in sterling silver (.925). Valued at four shillings, it was introduced during Queen Victoria’s Jubilee coinage reform of 1887, when several silver denominations received updated designs. Although intended as a practical higher-value silver coin, the double florin proved unpopular in circulation and was issued for only a short period.
The denomination is especially remembered for its large size, attractive reverse design, and its frequent confusion in circulation with the crown. All circulation issues of the series use the Jubilee portrait of Queen Victoria on the obverse, designed by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm, while the reverse features a crowned arrangement of cruciform shields with sceptres in the angles. Because of its short run and distinctive status within late Victorian silver, the series has long been a favourite with type collectors and date collectors alike.
Coinage Details
1887–1890 — Annual issues were struck for only four years. The denomination never achieved broad public acceptance, in part because of its similarity in size and appearance to the crown. As a result, the double florin was discontinued after 1890. The 1887 issue, as the first year of the type and part of the Jubilee coinage, is particularly popular, while the later dates are collected both as part of a short denomination set and within a full Victorian silver type run.
Victoria Double Florin
Specifications
| Years Issued | 1887–1890 |
| Denomination | Double Florin / Four Shillings |
| Diameter | 36 mm |
| Weight | 22.62 g |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Alloy | Silver (.925) |
| Obverse Portrait | Jubilee Head |
| Obverse Designer | Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm |
| Reverse Designer | Leonard Charles Wyon |
Year-by-Year Reference
1887
| 1887 Victoria Double Florin |
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| Obverse | Reverse |
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First year of issue and part of the Jubilee coinage. This is the most historically important date of the series and is especially popular with type collectors.
1888
| 1888 Victoria Double Florin |
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| Obverse | Reverse |
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Second year of issue. The design remained unchanged, continuing the Jubilee portrait and the distinctive crowned shield reverse.
1889
| 1889 Victoria Double Florin |
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| Obverse | Reverse |
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Third year of the series. By this point the denomination had already failed to gain strong public acceptance in circulation.
1890
| 1890 Victoria Double Florin |
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| Obverse | Reverse |
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Final year of issue. After 1890 the denomination was discontinued, making the Victoria double florin one of the shortest regular silver series of the late nineteenth century.