1887 Queen Victoria One Penny – Lustrous Bronze

1887 Queen Victoria One Penny – Lustrous Bronze – Jubilee Year Issue – Choice Grade Example

This listing is for a genuine 1887 Bronze One Penny of Queen Victoria, struck at the Royal Mint, London. Issued during the year of Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, this coin is part of the enduring “Bun Head” series designed by Leonard Charles Wyon, capturing the essence of late 19th-century British coinage.

This particular piece is beautifully preserved, exhibiting strong original mint lustre with attractive golden-bronze surfaces and subtle violet toning. The strike is crisp across both sides, with detailed rendering of Britannia and a bold, even portrait of the Queen — a high-grade and eye-appealing example.

Historical Context

The 1887 penny was struck during one of the most celebrated years of Victoria’s reign — her Golden Jubilee. It represents the final phase of the Bun Head series before the later “Old Head” portrait was introduced in 1895. Despite its relatively large mintage, few examples survive today with full lustre and original colour, as most entered circulation quickly during Britain’s peak industrial expansion.

For collectors, 1887 marks a numismatic milestone year — significant both historically and aesthetically — making lustrous survivors like this highly desirable.

Coin Details

• Country: United Kingdom

• Monarch: Queen Victoria (1837–1901)

• Denomination: One Penny (1d)

• Date: 1887

• Metal: Bronze

• Weight: 9.45 g

• Diameter: 30.8 mm

• Edge: Plain

• Mint: Royal Mint, London

• Mintage: 8,657,000

Design

• Obverse: Young “Bun Head” portrait of Queen Victoria facing left, wearing a laurel wreath. Legend: VICTORIA D:G: BRITT: REG: F:D:, designed by Leonard Charles Wyon.

• Reverse: Britannia seated right with trident and shield, lighthouse and ship in background. ONE PENNY above, date below.

Condition

A superb lustrous example with excellent eye appeal. The coin displays warm golden-chestnut toning with subtle violet and blue iridescence under light. The surfaces are clean with only light handling marks consistent with its near-uncirculated preservation. Excellent strike and pleasing originality throughout.

Collectors’ Notes

The 1887 One Penny offers both historical prestige and collector value — representing the Jubilee year and the final years of the Bun Head type. Examples retaining full mint lustre, as seen here, are scarce and command strong demand among Victorian bronze specialists.