Five Pound Piece: Victoria (obverse); Una (Cleveland Museum of Art 1969.217)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1839
This piece was struck by the Royal Mint from gold purchased for the purpose. The current gold coins, such as the sovereign, were struck from gold supplied by the Bank of England.
The larger gold pieces have their origins in the five and two guinea pieces. There are several minor varieties of this fine and rare piece, designed by William Wyon, R.A., a member of the celebrated family, still in existence, that had such a long and profound influence on British coin design. By some, this piece was considered to be too medallic for coinage purposes. Queen Victoria, at this date a young woman of 20, is shown as Una, Truth, because truth is one : one of the principal characters in Spenser's Faerie Queene (1590–1611).
She is leading the lion referred to in her adventures in Spenser's work. It is often also referred to as the British lion. This coin is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in the English series, and the standard of workmanship and striking has never been improved upon. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1969.217: Five Pound Piece: Victoria (obverse); Una (reverse), 1839. Design by William Wyon (British, 1795–1851).
Gold; diameter: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.). Inscribed: VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIARUM REGINA F: D: (Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith); DIRIGE DEUS GRESSUS MEOS; MDCCCXXXIX; W. WYON R.A. (May the Lord direct my steps; 1839). Details are those of this museum object; how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 3
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
This five-pound piece was never for circulation but instead for presentation and collectors.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- gold
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.)
- Measurements
- Diameter: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.)
- Material and technique
- gold
Design
- Inscriptions
- VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIARUM REGINA F: D: (Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith); DIRIGE DEUS GRESSUS MEOS; MDCCCXXXIX; W. WYON R.A. (May the Lord direct my steps; 1839)
Identification
- Date recorded
- 1839
- Culture period
- England, Victoria, 1837-1901
- Maker recorded
- William Wyon (British, 1795–1851)
- Museum attribution
- William Wyon (British, 1795–1851)
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1969.217
- Published references
- 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. 74
- Museum classification
- Coins
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: this record describes a single museum object; confirm the wider coin type and standard catalogue references against numismatic literature.