QUOTE("Sylvester")
An attempt at a grading guide for Victorian coin obverses. Please note that due to limited coins available for scanning, it's not always possible to be pinpoint accurate, but it should give you the general idea of what to look for...
YOUNG HEAD 1837-1887
Issued on Gold from 1838-1887
Issued on Silver (except Florin) from 1838-1887
Issued on Copper from 1838-1860
The young head was designed by William Wyon, and came to grace the coinage up until the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 1887. By which time it is probably safe to say the portrait no longer bared a resemblence to the Queen.
FINE - issues such as the one illustrated below, there is often wear evidence across the whole coin, the Queen's hair and the bands in her hair usually show some considerable wear;
GOOD FINE - notice that more is visable than on the previous image. The hair showing less wear and the bands in the hair are more clearly visable;
VERY FINE - the overall wear of the coin is much less noticable than on the previous pictures. The hair detail is much more pronounced and so are the bands and ribbons. The one below is about AVF but it's the closest one i've got... :roll:
EXTREMELY FINE - shows signs of circulation but almost all fine detail will be clear, the bands are full, the hair will show only wear on the very highest points.
UNCIRCULATED - full details, can occur with numerous bag marks, the less the better though!
GOTHIC HEAD 1847-1887
Issued on silver crowns 1847 and 1853
Issued on silver florins 1849-1887
Designed by William Wyon, initially making it's appearance on the Gothic Crown of 1847, presumably as a test piece (all 8000 pieces minted) for the new design for a new coin. The florin, at 1/10th of a pound to be introduced two years later as the frst step towards decimalisation.
GOOD - very little detail visable, but all lettering intact.
(pic to follow)
FINE - considerable wear, showing mostly on the portrait of Victoria. Crown and Queen's facial features will show the most wear. Particular attention to the wear on the crown ornamentation, should distinguish this from a VF.
VERY FINE - less wear than a Fine, Queen's facial features will be far more visable, but there will still be wear evident upon particularly the hair in front of the ear, which may be lacking in some detail, and wear evident upon the crown ornamentatin. Coin pictured is AVF.
EXTREMELY FINE - wear will be limited to only the highest points, namely the hair infront of the Queen's ear, and the highest points of the crown ornamentation.
UNCIRCULATED - No signs of wear, but bag marking may be evident on such a big coin.
YOUNG HEAD 1837-1887
Issued on Gold from 1838-1887
Issued on Silver (except Florin) from 1838-1887
Issued on Copper from 1838-1860
The young head was designed by William Wyon, and came to grace the coinage up until the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 1887. By which time it is probably safe to say the portrait no longer bared a resemblence to the Queen.
FINE - issues such as the one illustrated below, there is often wear evidence across the whole coin, the Queen's hair and the bands in her hair usually show some considerable wear;
GOOD FINE - notice that more is visable than on the previous image. The hair showing less wear and the bands in the hair are more clearly visable;
VERY FINE - the overall wear of the coin is much less noticable than on the previous pictures. The hair detail is much more pronounced and so are the bands and ribbons. The one below is about AVF but it's the closest one i've got... :roll:
EXTREMELY FINE - shows signs of circulation but almost all fine detail will be clear, the bands are full, the hair will show only wear on the very highest points.
UNCIRCULATED - full details, can occur with numerous bag marks, the less the better though!
GOTHIC HEAD 1847-1887
Issued on silver crowns 1847 and 1853
Issued on silver florins 1849-1887
Designed by William Wyon, initially making it's appearance on the Gothic Crown of 1847, presumably as a test piece (all 8000 pieces minted) for the new design for a new coin. The florin, at 1/10th of a pound to be introduced two years later as the frst step towards decimalisation.
GOOD - very little detail visable, but all lettering intact.
(pic to follow)
FINE - considerable wear, showing mostly on the portrait of Victoria. Crown and Queen's facial features will show the most wear. Particular attention to the wear on the crown ornamentation, should distinguish this from a VF.
VERY FINE - less wear than a Fine, Queen's facial features will be far more visable, but there will still be wear evident upon particularly the hair in front of the ear, which may be lacking in some detail, and wear evident upon the crown ornamentatin. Coin pictured is AVF.
EXTREMELY FINE - wear will be limited to only the highest points, namely the hair infront of the Queen's ear, and the highest points of the crown ornamentation.
UNCIRCULATED - No signs of wear, but bag marking may be evident on such a big coin.
