Collection Online as of March 30, 2023

Sovereign: Victoria (obverse); Shield of Arms (reverse)

1839

Part of a set. See all set records

William Wyon

(British, 1795–1851)

England, Victoria, 1837-1901

Gold

Diameter: 2.2 cm (7/8 in.)

The Norweb Collection 1969.218

Location

not on view

Fun Fact

William Wyon was the official chief engraver at the Royal Mint from 1828 until his death.

Description

With the end of the rule of the House of Hanover, whose last direct representative on the British throne was William IV (died 1837), the royal arms that had ceased to show the French pretention at the end of the first coinage of George III were now further simplified. In each quarter from top right to bottom left: 1. England; 2. Scotland; 3. Ireland; 4. England.

Inscriptions

Inscription

VICTORIA DEI GRATIA; below: 1839.

Inscription Translation

Victoria, by the Grace of God

Inscription Remark

obverse

Inscription

BRITANNIARUM REGINA FLD DEF

Inscription Translation

Queen of Britain and Defender of the Faith

Inscription Remark

reverse

Provenance

-1969

Mrs. Emery May Holden Norweb (1895-1984), Cleveland, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art

1969-

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Citations

Cleveland Museum of Art, and Emery May Norweb. English Gold Coins, Ancient to Modern Times, On Loan to the Cleveland Museum of Art from the Norweb Collection. [Catalog. 1968.] p. 75

Exhibition history

English Gold Coins: Ancient to Modern Times. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1963).

Year in Review: 1969. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (January 27-February 22, 1970).