Information about effigy: Queen Victoria - Gothic Portrait by William Wyon

William Wyon RA (1795 in Birmingham - 29 October 1851), was official chief engraver at the Royal Mint from 1828 until his death.

The name of William Wyon is well known among coin and medal collectors because of his prodigious output and artistic skill. He designed the effigy of William IV in 1830, working from the bust by Sir Francis Chantrey, and "The Young Head", which graced Victoria's coinage from 1838 to 1860 on the pennies and the rest of the coinage until 1887.

The Gothic Portrait depicts a young Queen Victoria facing left, crowned with the Crown of Saint Edward, which has been used in the coronation of English monarchs since the 13th century. The Queen's hair is braided and held back in a bun, with a braid looping around her ear. Her dress is decorated with rose, thistle and shamrock - the national plants of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland and Ireland respectively). The artist's initials W.W. are in the field below right.

Queen Victoria - Gothic Portrait on a florin

United Kingdom / Florin 1851 Gothic

The portrait was used on silver coinage, such as the florin seen here.

Gothic Portrait - Modern Issue

Alderney / Gold Two Ounces 2021 Queen Victoria - Gothic

The Gothic Portrait of Queen Victoria was re-issued on a series of coins by The Commonwealth Mint under the jurisdiction of the Crown dependency of Alderney.