Penny 1881, Coin from United Kingdom

Penny 1881, Coin from United Kingdom (demonetised 1971)

Coin	Penny 1881

The British pre-decimal penny coin, abbreviated as 1d (from "denarius" - the Roman coin from which the penny is directly descended), was a unit of currency that equalled one two-hundred-and-fortieth of a pound sterling (there were 20 shillings to a pound, and 12 pence to a shilling so one pound was equal to 240 pence).

The denomination continues the tradition of earlier penny coins of Great Britain, which also featured the figure of Britannia. The bronze coins of this type replaced the larger copper pennies which were issued until 1860; copper was considered to be impractical as it wore too rapidly due to extensive circulation. The new, more durable, alloy was composed of 95 parts of copper, four of tin and one of zinc. The coins were also smaller and thinner, therefore more convenient to carry. The dies were engraved by Leonard Charles Wyon, then Engraver to the Royal Mint.

The reverse features a new, third, design of Britannia. The obverse carries Leonard Wyon's "Bun Head" portrait of Queen Victoria. Both sides were updated to the pennies carrying the fourth Britannia design and a new effigy of the Queen in 1895.

One penny coins issued in 1881 remained in circulation for 90 years until "Decimal Day", 15 February 1971 when the old currency was demonetised and the decimal Pound Sterling was introduced, with a new decimal penny replacing these old coins.

Mint	Mint mark	Total Mintage
Heaton Mint	Letter H	3,763,200 (3.8 million)
Royal Mint	No mint mark	2,302,362 (2.3 million)

Obverse

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.

Obverse Inscription	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :

Reverse

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 ONE PENNY.

In exergue, the date 1881.

Coins minted at the Heaton Mint in Birmingham have a small letter H as mint mark, under the date. Coins struck by the Royal Mint in London have no mint mark.

Reverse Inscription	ONE PENNY 1881

Edge	Plain	Edge Inscription	None

Notes

Normal coins for the year are considered to be those with Obverse 9 and Reverse J (Freeman 102, minted by the Royal Mint), or Obverse 11 and Reverse M (Freeman 108, struck by the Heaton Mint).

For information about Freeman obverse/reverse varieties, see descriptions on the one penny / third Britannia type page.

References to additional information:

[Book] Bressett, Kenneth E. 1962. A Guidebook of English Coins, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Wisconsin, USA, pp 31-40
[Book] Freeman, Michael J. 1970. The Bronze Coinage of Great Britain. Motherwell, Scotland, (2016 ed. pp 21-48)
[Book] Remick, Jerome. 1971. The Guide Book and Catalogue to British Commonwealth Coins, pp 202-206

Penny 1881: Known varieties

Variety	Obverse 9, Reverse M, Heaton Mint (Freeman 103)
Mintage	Issued: unknown (included in total)
Details	Listed with question mark in Freeman.
Variety	Obverse 9, Reverse M, Proof, Royal Mint (Freeman 104)
Mintage	Issued: unknown
Variety	Obverse 10, Reverse J, Royal Mint (Freeman 105)
Mintage	Issued: unknown (included in total)
Variety	Obverse 11, Reverse J, Royal Mint (Freeman 106)
Mintage	Issued: unknown (included in total)
Variety	Obverse 11, Reverse M, Proof, Royal Mint (Freeman 107)
Mintage	Issued: unknown (included in total)
Variety	Obverse 11, Reverse M, Proof, Heaton Mint (Freeman 109)
Mintage	Issued: unknown
Variety	Obverse 12, Reverse N, Proof, Royal Mint (Freeman 110)
Mintage	Issued: unknown

Penny 1881: References to Information Used

Source	Edition	About	Link	Notes
Museums Victoria Collections	2016	Coin description	link
Whitman, Guidebook of English Coins, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries	1962	Mint
Whitman, Guidebook of English Coins, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries	1962	Mintage
Whitman, Guidebook of English Coins, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries	1962	Varieties		Proofs
Freeman, Bronze Coinage of Great Britain	1970	Varieties

Showing 100 from a total of 127 coins of type: Penny (Pre-decimal)

Coin Name	Mintage	Effigy	Legend
Penny 1806	unknown	King George III - Laureate Head by Küchler	GEORGIUS III · D : G · REX. 1806
Penny 1807	unknown	King George III - Laureate Head by Küchler	GEORGIUS III · D : G · REX. 1807
Penny 1808 (Proof only)	1	King George III - Laureate Head by Küchler	GEORGIUS III · D : G · REX. 1808
Penny 1817 (Silver, circulating)	unknown	King George III - Small Head	GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA 1817
Penny 1818 (Silver, circulating)	unknown	King George III - Small Head	GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA 1818
Penny 1820 (Silver, circulating)	unknown	King George III - Small Head	GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA 1820
Penny 1825	1,075,200	King George IV - Laureate Head by Wyon	GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA · 1825 ·
Penny 1826	5,913,600	King George IV - Laureate Head by Wyon	GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA · 1826 ·
Penny 1827	1,451,520	King George IV - Laureate Head by Wyon	GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA · 1827 ·
Penny 1831	806,400	King William IV - Bare Head	GULIELMUS IIII DEI GRATIA 1831
Penny 1834	322,560	King William IV - Bare Head	GULIELMUS IIII DEI GRATIA 1834
Penny 1837	174,720	King William IV - Bare Head	GULIELMUS IIII DEI GRATIA 1837
Penny 1839 (Proof only)	unknown	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1839
Penny 1841	913,920	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1841
Penny 1843	483,840	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1843
Penny 1844	215,040	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1844
Penny 1845	322,560	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1845
Penny 1846	483,840	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1846
Penny 1847	430,080	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1847
Penny 1848	161,280	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1848
Penny 1849	268,800	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1849
Penny 1851	532,224	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1851
Penny 1853	1,021,440	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1853
Penny 1854	6,720,000	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1854
Penny 1855	5,273,856	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1855
Penny 1856	1,212,288	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1856
Penny 1857	752,640	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1857
Penny 1858	1,559,040	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1858
Penny 1859	1,075,200	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1859
Penny 1860 (Large)	32,256	Queen Victoria - Young Head	VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1860
Penny 1860 (Small)	5,053,440	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1861	36,449,280	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1862	50,534,400	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1863	28,062,720	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1864	3,440,640	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1865	8,601,600	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1866	9,999,360	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1867	5,483,520	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1868	1,182,720	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1869	2,580,480	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1870	5,695,022	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1871	1,290,318	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1872	8,494,572	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1873	8,494,200	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1874	12,288,105	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1875	11,443,680	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1876	11,074,560	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1877	9,624,747	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1878	2,764,470	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1879	7,666,476	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1880	3,000,831	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1881	6,065,562	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1882	7,526,400	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1883	6,237,438	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1884	11,702,802	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1885	7,145,862	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1886	6,087,759	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1887	5,315,085	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1888	5,125,020	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1889	12,559,737	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1890	15,330,840	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1891	17,885,961	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1892	10,501,671	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1893	8,161,737	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1894	3,883,452	Queen Victoria - Bun Head	VICTORIA D : G : BRITT : REG : F : D :
Penny 1895	5,395,830	Queen Victoria - Veiled Head	VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Penny 1896	24,147,156	Queen Victoria - Veiled Head	VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Penny 1897	20,756,620	Queen Victoria - Veiled Head	VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Penny 1898	14,296,836	Queen Victoria - Veiled Head	VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Penny 1899	26,441,069	Queen Victoria - Veiled Head	VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Penny 1900	31,778,109	Queen Victoria - Veiled Head	VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Penny 1901	22,205,568	Queen Victoria - Veiled Head	VICTORIA · DEI · GRA · BRITT · REGINA · FID · DEF · IND · IMP ·
Penny 1902	26,976,768	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1903	21,415,296	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1904	12,913,152	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1905	17,783,808	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1906	37,989,504	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1907	47,322,240	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1908	31,506,048	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1909	19,617,024	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1910	29,549,184	King Edward VII - Bare Head	EDWARDVS VII DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1911	23,079,168	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1912	65,106,048	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1913	65,497,872	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1914	50,820,997	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1915	47,310,807	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1916	86,411,165	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1917	107,905,436	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1918	87,888,172	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1919	118,970,690	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1920	124,693,485	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1921	129,717,693	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1922	16,346,711	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1926	4,498,519	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1927	60,989,561	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1928	50,178,000	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1929	49,132,800	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1930	29,097,600	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1931	19,843,200	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Penny 1932	8,277,600	King George V - Bare Head	GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF: IND: IMP:
Showing 1 to 100 of 127 Coins. Start Previous 1 2 Next End

Advertising

London Mint Office coins.

My Collection

Please sign up and/or log in.

You will then be able to manage your collection and record whether you have or want this coin.

Penny 1881: Details

Country	United Kingdom
Currency	Pound Sterling (pre-decimal)
Coin Type	Penny, Britannia third design
Issued	1881
Monarch	Queen Victoria
Effigy	Queen Victoria - Portrait by Leonard Charles Wyon (Bun Head)
Reverse	Britannia, Seated
Face Value	1 (x Penny)
Total Mintage	6,065,562 (6.1 million)
Current	No; demonetised 1971
Material	Bronze
Designer	Leonard Charles Wyon
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Round
Orientation	Medal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size	31.0000 mm
Mass	9.4000 g
OCC ID	RWKZ-OJNC-LGQP-OXGL

Search Similar Coins to Buy (Affiliate Ad)

Search for United Kingdom: Penny 1881 on eBay

Advertising

Buy gold and silver bullion online!

Share or Bookmark this Page

Penny 1881: Photos

Image	Details
	Coin - Penny, Queen Victoria, Great Britain, 1881 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Notes: Royal Mint (no mint mark). Source
	Coin - Penny, Queen Victoria, Great Britain, 1881 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Notes: Royal Mint. Source
	Great Britain 1881-H penny Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Stack's Bowers Notes: Heaton Mint (H mint mark). Proof. Reverse M. Source
	Great Britain 1881-H penny Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA Author: Stack's Bowers Notes: Heaton Mint. Proof. Obverse 11. Source
	Coin - Penny, Queen Victoria, Great Britain, 1881 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Notes: Heaton Mint (H mint mark). Source
	Coin - Penny, Queen Victoria, Great Britain, 1881 Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY Author: Justine Philip Notes: Heaton Mint. Source

Penny 1881: Catalogue Reference IDs

Source	Reference ID
Freeman, Bronze Coinage of Great Britain	From 102 through to 110 incl.
Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom	3954 (Royal Mint London), 3955 (Heaton Mint)
Krause, Standard Catalog of World Coins	Great Britain KM# 755

Relevant Links

Museums Victoria Collections: Coin - Penny, Queen Victoria, Great Britain, 1881

Museums Victoria Collections: Coin - Penny, Queen Victoria, Great Britain, 1881 H

Penny 1881, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information