Introduction:

Queen Victoria’s predecessor, William IV, issued a short run of silver threepences (minted in London) for use in the British West Indies, where the British Administration was trying to increase its influence by introducing a strong currency based on ‘good silver’ in British denominations.

Silver threepences continued to be minted for the West Indies when Victoria was crowned but it was not until 1845, that the silver threepence was struck for general circulation in Great Britain and Ireland.

It proved to be a very popular denomination and stayed in circulation right up to WW2 – when silver coinage production stopped completely in the UK. Conversely, production of the silver three-halfpence and the groat (silver fourpence) did not last as long as Victoria.

Silver Threepence: Victoria

• Alloy: Sterling Silver (92.5% silver)
• Weight: 1.41g
• Diameter: 16mm
• Edge: Plain

Type I Obverse: (Young Head)

• Uncrowned portrait (Young Head) of Queen Victoria, facing left.
• Legend: VICTORIA D:G: BRITANNIAR: REGINA F:D:
  • Full Latin Text: VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITTANNIARUM REGINA FIDEI DEFENSATRIX
  • Translation: Victoria by the Grace of God Queen of Britain Defender of the Faith

Type II Obverse: (Jubilee Head)

• Robed jubilee bust of the mature Queen Victoria (Jubilee Head), facing left, adorned with jewellery, veil, and a small crown.
• Legend: VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITT: REGINA F:D:
  • Full Latin Text: VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITTANNIARUM REGINA FIDEI DEFENSATRIX
  • Translation: Victoria by the Grace of God Queen of Britain Defender of the Faith
• Designer / Engraver: Joseph Boehm / Leonard Wyon

Type III Obverse: (Old, Widow or Veiled Head)

• Older veiled bust (Old, Veiled, Widow Head) of Victoria facing left, adorned in jewellery.
• Legend: VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
  • VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITTANNIARUM REGINA FIDEI DEFENSATRIX INDIAE IMPERATRIX
  • Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the Britains Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India
• Designer / Engraver: Thomas Brock / George De Saulles
  • Initials below bust (TB)

Reverse:

• Royal crown above the number ‘3’, with the date divided to either side.
• A wreath with a bow at the base surrounds the main design
  • The reverse design survived 3 changes to the obverse in what would turn out to be the longest ever reign by a British monarch, until the present Queen Elizabeth II passed her mark of 64 years in 2017. Charles, like Victoria’s son Edward, is destined to be a very old king when he succeeds his mother.

Mintage & Market Values:

Type I Obverse: (Young Head)

Varieties:

The 1838 ‘BRITANNIAB’ is an extremely rare variety and seldom comes up for auction. We have no image, nor any market price. If two wealthy collectors, determined to add it to their collection, bid at the same auction, the price may exceed €1,000.

Notes:

The two key dates to look out for are 1847 and 1848. Bother are extremely rare. Few of the 4,488 minted (for Maundy sets) seem to have survived.

Varieties:

Notes:

In 1852, only 4,488 silver threepences were minted (for Maundy sets) and, since so few seem to have survived, this date is extremely rare and collectors are advised to keep an eye for one. Market value is difficult to determine since so few turn up at auction. Be prepared for a bidding battle if you spot one.

Notes:

Although less threepences were minted in 1867, more seem to have survived than the larger mintage of 1863, thus the 1863 threepence commands a significant premium over coins from other years in the 1860s.

Notes:

The 1882 threepence is the key date in the above table and commands a premium over the usual prices for the other years. The 1887 ‘young head’ is also worth considerably more than a ‘jubilee head’ of the same year.

Type II Obverse: (Jubilee Head)

Notes:

Like in 1887, there are two formats for the 1893 threepence. The ‘jubilee head’ is the scarcer of the two and commands a very significant premium, especially in the higher grades. Since these coins are commonly found at car boot sales and charity shops, collectors are advised to keep a sharp look out for the scarcer of the two designs.

Type III Obverse: (Old, Widow or Veiled Head)

Notes:

The ‘veiled (or widow) head’ design is the most common Victorian threepence and building up a complete set is much easier (and less expensive) than earlier busts.

 

Further Reading:

• Sterling Silver
  • O’Brien Coin Guide: GB & Ireland Silver Threepence of William IV
  • O’Brien Coin Guide: GB & Ireland Silver Threepence of Victoria
  • O’Brien Coin Guide: GB & Ireland Silver Threepence of Edward VII
  • O’Brien Coin Guide: GB & Ireland Silver Threepence of George V, Part 1

• 50% Silver
  • O’Brien Coin Guide: GB & Ireland Silver Threepence of George V, Part 2
  • O’Brien Coin Guide: GB & Northern Ireland Silver Threepence of George VI