Halfpenny 1860 (Small), Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

The obverse of the coin shows the young effigy of Queen Victoria by Leonard Charles Wyon, which is widely known as the "Bun Head" due to the Queen's hairstyle.

The portrait depicts Queen Victoria facing left, wearing a bodice and a mantle decorated with rose, thistle and shamrock (the floral symbols of the constituent parts of the United Kingdom - England, Scotland and Ireland respectively); in her hair is a wreath of leaves and berries tied at back with ribbon, her hair is drawn to a plaited bun behind; she wears a circular brooch; at the back of her shoulder, a small part of the Star of the Garter is visible, with a small part of its motto ("HONI SO") readable.

Around, the monarch's legend: VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :. Translated from Latin: Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith.

Unlike the one penny coins of the same year and design, there is no designer's signature (L.C. Wyon) under the bust.

Freeman describes several obverse varieties:

Obverse 1
As the obverse of the penny coins of the same year, with a beaded border. There are minor differences such as a slightly different expression of the face, different number of leaves and berries in the wreath, only "HONI S" visible from the motto of the Order of the Garter etc. The main difference is the lack of designer's signature below the bust. The bust measures 20.5 mm from the top of the head to the base of the mantle, at the centre of each.

Obverse 1*
Similar to Obverse 1 but facial features as those described for the penny Obverse 1*, most of all the forehead being more rounded. The knot connecting the ribbon to the lowest leaves of the wreath has been removed.

Obverse 2
Similar to Obverse 1 but with a toothed border. The profile is different, the nose and lips more rounded, there is a curl of hair curving downwards 1 mm from the bust. The bust measures 20.75 mm.

Obverse 3
Similar to Obverse 2 but with smaller facial features. There is an incuse border dividing the leaves in the wreath.

Obverse 4
Similar to Obverse 3 but there are now 15 leaves in the wreath (where they were 14 before); there are only four berries. The border teeth are short.

Obverse 5
Similar to Obverse 4 but there are no incuse lines at the upper part of the "bun". However, there are now double incuse lines depicting the veins in some leaves, The lettering of the legend is heavier.

Obverse 7
A new obverse corresponding to Obverse 6 of the one penny. The Queen's nose is now slightly curved, as is the mouth; her hair is more wavy. There are 16 leaves in the wreath. All leaf veins are in relief.

The reverse of the coin shows, within a beaded border, the figure of Britannia - the female personification of Great Britain - seated facing right, wearing a Corinthian helmet pushed back to reveal her face, resting her right hand on a shield bearing the combined crosses of the Union Flag, and holding a trident in her left hand.

In the background at right, a ship sailing away; at left, a lighthouse.

Around left and right, the denomination HALF PENNY.

In exergue, the date 1860.

Unlike the one penny coins of the same year and design, there are no designer's initials (L.C.W.) on the reverse.

Freeman describes several reverse varieties:

Reverse A
As the reverse of the penny coins of the same year, but the denomination reads HALF PENNY (divided by the figure of Britannia). The border has circular dots, the circle inside the border is continuous. There are no designer's initials. The crosses of the shield are depicted by double incuse lines.

Reverse B
Similar to Reverse A but with a toothed border. The crosses of the shield are depicted by double raised lines. The lighthouse tapers upwards, its top is pointed.

Reverse C
Similar to Reverse B but the top of the lighthouse is rounded, and its width is almost uniform from the lantern down.

Reverse D
A touched-up version of Reverse C. The breastplate is depicted by incuse lines, as is the drapery below Britannia's waist.

The "normal" coins for the year are taken to be those with Obverse 1 and Reverse A (Freeman 258).

References to additional information:

[Book] Bressett, Kenneth E. 1962. A Guidebook of English Coins, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Wisconsin, USA. pp24-25
[Book] Freeman, Michael J. 1970. The Bronze Coinage of Great Britain. Motherwell, Scotland, (2016 ed. pp 76-82)
[Book] Remick, Jerome. 1971. The Guide Book and Catalogue to British Commonwealth Coins., p197