Sixpence 1893 Jubilee Head, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

The obverse of the coin shows an older bust of Queen Victoria facing left, wearing the small imperial crown, a long veil falling behind her head, a pearl necklace and earrings, the Ribbon and Star of the Garter and the badge of the Imperial Order of India.

The effigy was created by Joseph Edgar Boehm to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria (50 years on the throne), 1837-1887, and is known as her "Jubilee Head" portrait.

Around, the monarch's legend: VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITT: REGINA F: D:. Translated from Latin: Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen of the British, Defender of the Faith.

The designer's initials J. E. B. are in the field below the shoulder truncation.

Surrounded by a beaded border, the reverse of the coin shows, within an open wreath of olive (left) and oak (right) branches, the value and denomination in words, on two lines: SIX PENCE.

Above the value, St Edward's Crown. Named after Saint Edward the Confessor, it has been traditionally used to crown English and British monarchs at their coronations since the 13th century (with a two-century gap between 1689 and 1911).

Below the ribbon tying the wreath, the date of issue: 1893.

In 1893, the effigy of the Queen on the obverse was changed during the year. Only a very small number of coins dated 1893 carry the Jubilee portrait, most had the new ("Veiled Head" or "Old Head") portrait.

This type (1893 Jubilee Head Sixpence) is considered very rare.

Remick's Guide and Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins lists a combined mintage of 7,350,619 coins of both types. Krause divides that into 341,000 of the old type and 7,010,000 of the new type but the relatively high mintage of the old type would seem to not justify the high value placed on it?