Gothic Florin, 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 is crowned with the Crown of Saint Edward, which has been used in the coronation of English monarchs since the 13th century. Her 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).

On earlier issues, the artist's initials W.W. are near the edge below the portrait; this was later replaced by a die number, while the last issues had neither designer's initials nor die number.

Around, the monarch's legend: Victoria d: g: brit: reg: f: d: (abbreviated from Victoria dei gratia britanniarum regina, fidei defensor - Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith); on later issues "brit" was changed to "britt". Following that is the date of issue in Roman numerals, e.g. mdccclii for 1852. The lettering is in ornate Gothic script, giving the coin type its name, the Gothic Florin.

Within a roped 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 name of the denomination: One florin; around below, its value as a fraction of the Pound Sterling: one tenth of a pound. As on the obverse, the lettering is in ornate Gothic style.