Five Pound Piece: Victoria (obverse); St. George and the Dragon (Cleveland Museum of Art 1969.219)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1887
The obverse design of this piece is usually known as the "Jubilee head," since 1887, the year of its production, was the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. By Sir Joseph Boehm, R.A., sculptor in ordinary to the queen, it caused a minor storm since it was said the tiny crown made the queen look ridiculous.
The queen is said not to have liked the design herself, but she did in fact wear a small crown of this type when she began to find the full-size crown too heavy. The crown may be seen among the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1969.219: Five Pound Piece: Victoria (obverse); St. George and the Dragon (reverse), 1887. Design by after Benedetto Pistrucci (Italian, 1784–1855), design by Joseph Boehm (British, 1834–1890).
Gold; diameter: 3.7 cm (1 7/16 in.). Inscribed: VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D: (Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith); 1887. 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 piece was not made for circulation but was part of a proof set.
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: BRITT: REG: F: D: (Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith); 1887
Identification
- Date recorded
- 1887
- Culture period
- England, Victoria, 1837-1901
- Maker recorded
- Benedetto Pistrucci (Italian, 1784–1855), Joseph Boehm (British, 1834–1890)
- Museum attribution
- Benedetto Pistrucci (Italian, 1784–1855); Joseph Boehm (British, 1834–1890)
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1969.219
- 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. 77
- 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.