Gothic Crown, Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information

Within a decorated border, the obverse of the coin shows the young crowned bust of Queen Victoria, facing left; the effigy is by William Wyon and is widely known as her "Gothic Portrait".

The Queen's hair is braided and held back in a bun, with a braid looping around her ear. Her dress is decorated with rose, thistle and shamrock - the national plants of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland and Ireland respectively).

Around, the monarch's legend: Victoria d: g: brit: reg: f: d: - abbreviated from Victoria dei gratia britanniarum regina, fidei defensor; translated from Latin, Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith. The lettering is in ornate Gothic script, giving the coin type its popular name, the Gothic Crown.

Within a decorated border, the reverse design depicts crowned cruciform (in a cross pattern) shields bearing the three lions passant of England (twice, in positions 1 and 3), the lion rampant of Scotland (2), and the harp of Ireland (4). The shields are contained within a deeply tressured circular panel. In the angles are two roses, a shamrock and a thistle - the national plants of England, Scotland and Ireland respectively. In the centre there is a four-leafed flower.

Around above, interrupted by St Edward's crown on top of the English shield, the inscription tueatur unita deus - May God guard these United (Kingdoms). Around below, also interrupted by the crown, the date of issue in Latin: anno dom mdcccxlvii - abbreviated from Anno domini MDCCCXLVII - Year of Our Lord 1847 (or mdcccliii for the second issue in 1853). As on the obverse, all the lettering is in ornate Gothic style.