Two Pounds 1887, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

Two Pounds 1887, Coin from United Kingdom (demonetised 1971)
CoinTwo Pounds 1887

A proof gold coin (29 mm diameter with milled edge) featuring the Jubilee bust of Queen Victoria wearing imperial crown and facing left, a long veil falls behind the head, the bust is draped and decorated with the Star of the Garter, and also the badge of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India; around, VICTORIA D:G: BRITT: REG: F:D: , the artist's initials J.E.B. below the shoulder.

The reverse features St. George on horseback holding a short sword in his right hand, the horse rearing to right over a fallen dragon which has a broken lance in its chest; in exergue, the date, 1887 and the artist's initials B.P.; the mint mark (if any) is in the ground above the middle of the date.

Struck as part of a new coinage in gold and silver to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, 1837-1887. The coins all shared a new "'Jubilee" obverse of the Queen by Sir Joseph E. Boehm, adapted from his own Jubilee medal. The new obverse proved unpopular but was used until 1893 on the regular denominations. The Golden Jubilee 5 and 2 pounds denominations were only struck in 1887.

MintMint markTotal Mintage
Royal Mint London No mint mark 92,142
Sydney Mint Letter S unknown, Rarity: R3 (Extremely Rare)
Obverse
United Kingdom / Two Pounds 1887 - obverse photo

Jubilee bust of Queen Victoria wearing imperial crown and facing left, a long veil falls behind the head, the bust is draped and decorated with the Star of the Garter, and also the badge of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India; around, VICTORIA D:G: BRITT: REG: F:D: , the artist's initials J.E.B. below the shoulder.

Obverse Inscription VICTORIA D:G: BRITT: REG: F:D:
Reverse
United Kingdom / Two Pounds 1887 - reverse photo

St. George on horseback holding a short sword in his right hand, the horse rearing to right over a fallen dragon which has a broken lance in its chest; in exergue, the date, 1887 and the artist's initials B.P.; the mint mark (if any) is in the ground above the middle of the date.

Reverse Inscription 1887
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
Notes

The mintage of the Sydney Two Pounds coins is unknown.

The Renniks Australian Coin and Banknote Guide 1965 says: "The Sydney Mint struck gold Two Pound and Five Pound Gold Pieces for the years 1887, 1893 and 1902. No mintage figures are available for these Pieces, however at least fourteen 1887 Gold Pieces have been estimated to exist."

According to the Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1649 - 1971, "Probably not more than a dozen or so of each of the listed two and five pound gold coins [1887, 1893, 1902] were issued".

In its section for Two Pounds 1887 / Sydney, Spink just says "Extremely rare".

Two Pounds 1887: Known varieties
Variety Proof FDC (Royal Mint London)
Mintage Issued: 797 (included in total)
Variety Proof FDC no BP (Royal Mint London)
Mintage Issued: unknown (included in total). Rarity: R3 (Extremely Rare)
Details

No designer's initials B.P. in exergue. Extremely rare.

Two Pounds 1887: References to Information Used
SourceEditionAboutLinkNotes
Museums Victoria Collections 2016 Coin description link
Remick, Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1971 Mint Royal Mint London
Renniks, Australian Coin and Banknote Values 1965 Mint Sydney Mint
Remick, Catalogue of British Commonwealth Coins 1971 Mintage Royal Mint London mintage
Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom Varieties Proof FDC, Proof no BP
All (13) coins of type: Double Sovereign (Pre-decimal)
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Two Pounds 1887: Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
CurrencyPound Sterling (pre-decimal)
Coin TypeDouble Sovereign (Pre-decimal)
Issued1887
MonarchQueen Victoria
EffigyQueen Victoria - Portrait by Joseph Edgar Boehm (Jubilee Head)
Face Value2 (x Pound)
Total Mintage92,142
CurrentNo; demonetised 1971
Material0.9167 Gold
DesignerBenedetto Pistrucci
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
Mass15.9761 g
OCC IDWLGV-BOLD-CXDB-OMPX
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Two Pounds 1887: Photos
ImageDetails
Two Pounds 1887: Photo Great Britain 1887 2 pounds / thumbnail Great Britain 1887 2 pounds
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: Royal Mint London.
Source
Two Pounds 1887: Photo Great Britain 1887 2 pounds / thumbnail Great Britain 1887 2 pounds
Copyright: CoinFactsWiki / CC BY-SA
Author:
Notes: Royal Mint London.
Source
Two Pounds 1887: Photo Pattern Coin - 2 Pounds, Proof Strike, New South Wales, Australia, 1887 / thumbnail Pattern Coin - 2 Pounds, Proof Strike, New South Wales, Australia, 1887
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Sydney Mint. Proof.
Source
Two Pounds 1887: Photo Pattern Coin - 2 Pounds, Proof Strike, New South Wales, Australia, 1887 / thumbnail Pattern Coin - 2 Pounds, Proof Strike, New South Wales, Australia, 1887
Copyright: Museums Victoria / CC BY
Author:
Notes: Sydney Mint. Proof.
Source
Two Pounds 1887: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Friedberg, Gold Coins of the WorldGreat Britain 249 (Royal Mint London)
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsGreat Britain KM# 768 (Royal Mint London)
Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom3865 (Royal Mint London)
Friedberg, Gold Coins of the WorldAustralia 18 (Sydney Mint)
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsAustralia KM# 8 (Sydney Mint)
Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom3865A (Sydney Mint)
McDonald, Australian Coins and BanknotesMcD 300 (Sydney Mint)