Shilling, Three Shields, Coin Type from United Kingdom - detailed information

The obverse of the coin features the crowned bust of Queen Victoria facing left and wearing a widows's veil in mourning for her husband Prince Albert - her last official effigy (by Sir Thomas Brock), known also as the Veiled Head or Old Head.

The veil of a widow falls over the back of her crown; she wears a pearl necklace and a pendant; on the left lapel of the mantle, exhibited full-face, is the ribbon and Star of the Garter, part of the outer edge of which is covered by the veil.

In the field below the bust in small letters are the artist's initials T.B..

Around, the monarch's legend: VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·. Translated from Latin: Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the Britains Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India.

There reverse of the coin features, partly within the Garter of the Order of the Garter, three shields with the arms of England (top left) featuring three lions walking to left, Scotland (top right) featuring a rampant lion, and Ireland (below) featuring a harp, each crowned with St Edward's crown. Between the shields, a rose (above), thistle (below left) and shamrock (below right), the floral emblems of England, Scotland and Ireland respectively.

The Garter surrounding the shields is inscribed with the Royal motto HONI · SOIT · QUI · MAL · Y · PENSE ·, partly obscured by the shields. "Honi soit qui mal y pense" is an Anglo-Norman maxim which means "Shame on whosoever would think badly of it".

The Garter is surrounded by a beaded circle. In the outer rim, around above the value and denomination ONE SHILLING; below, divided by the pendant of the Garter, the date of issue [year].