Description
Victoria of the House of Hanover, Queen of the United Kingdom 1837-1901 AD, Silver Half Crown (14.16g, 32mm), 1897. Obverse: Older, crowned and veiled bust of Queen Victoria facing to the left, wearing pearl earring and 13 pearl necklace, designer’s initials “T.B.” (Thomas Brook) below bust, legend surrounds, “VICTORIA· DEI GRA· BRITT· REG·”. Reverse: Royal Shield of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952) surmounted by the Tudor Crown and decorated with collar, figure of Saint George slaying the dragon below with denomination and date either side, inner lined and beaded border and legend surrounds, “·FID· DEF· IND· IMP·”. Spink-3938; Bull-2783; ESC-731. Wiped on the obverse, a fact only noticeable under magnification, deeply toned with a noteworthy display of underlying blue toning in full display with every rotation, a most handsome piece, details virtually Mint State, reverse Mint State.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Victōria, Deī Grātiā, Britanniārum Rēgīna”, with an English translation of “Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen of the British people”. The Reverse Latin legend continues from the obverse and reads “Fideī Dēfēnstrīx, Indiae Imperātrīx”, with an English translation of “Defender of the Faith, Empress of India”.