The Queen Victoria 1887 Crown coin was issued to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria’s reign; but how much is one of the coins worth today?
The value for a Queen Victoria Crown coin varies greatly depending on the grading of the coin. Still, you can expect a decent condition version of the coin to sell for between £20 and £60 according to the latest values in 2022.
There is a lot to unpack with this coin – including the mintage and different minted versions – so let’s get straight into it.
How Queen Victoria 1887 Crowns Were Minted?
The estimated mintage for the coin is 173,500 with a further 1,000 proof versions.
The coin was issued in 0.925 sterling silver, and there weren’t any other versions of the coin. In terms of rarity, the 1887 crown is considered to be very scarce due to the low mintage and how long it has been since it was first introduced.
Did The Coin Enter Circulation?
Unlike crown coins of recent years, the 1887 Queen Victoria crowns were issued into circulation.
This is one of the reasons why the condition, or grade, of the coin matters so much in regard to the value of the coin. Given that around 173,500 of the coins entered circulation, the variety in the condition of the coins is going to be very significant.
How Does The Grade Affect Price?
If you happen to own a Queen Victoria 1887 Crown in good condition it could be worth having the coin professionally graded, as there are examples of the coin selling for well over £100 at auction.
eBay is a great starting place for cheaper specimens, but when it comes to older coins, you get what you pay for.
1887 Victoria Crown Coin Design
The obverse design of the coin features the Jubilee Head portrait of Queen Victoria.
This portrait was created by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm, who is best known for this portrait and also the statue of the Duke of Wellington in London, and was used between 1887 and 1893, to be succeeded by the Old Head portrait.
The inscription reads ‘VICTORIA D:G: BRITT:REG::D:’ and the edge is milled.
The reverse design features Benedetto Pistrucci’s Saint George and the Dragon design which has been used extensively for the past 200 years.
The date 1887 can be seen towards the bottom.
Not To Be Mistaken With The 1887 £5 Gold Sovereign Coin
In 1990 the crown coin was changed from a face value of 25 pence to £5, and gold versions of the coin became commonplace for the Royal Mint to produce. Before this, gold crowns were not common practice, but gold £5 sovereign coins were.
£5 Sovereign coins were non-commemorative and instead issued most years with a weight 5x that of a regular sovereign coin. Sovereigns are seen as more of an investment-grade coin.
Gold £5 sovereign coins were regularly issued from the start of the 19th century in the form of five guinea coins, and in 1887 a gold £5 sovereign coin was issued with essentially the same design as the 1887 Queen Victoria Crown coin.
Although both coins have the same design, they have different specifications which are listed in the table below:
| Specification | 1887 Crown | 1887 Gold £5 Sovereign Coin |
| Weight (g) | 28.28 | 39.90 |
| Diameter (mm) | 38.61 | 35.00 |
| Precious Metal Content (g) | 25.19 (0.925 Sterling Silver) | 39.9 (22 Carat Gold) |
| Mintage | Approx. 173,500 | Approx 54,000 |
| Max Estimated Value | £100s depending on grade | £3,000 to £4,000 |
Another interesting fact about the 1887 £5 sovereign coin is that it was the first-ever £5 sovereign coin issued for circulation.
Why Was The Coin Issued?
The 1887 Queen Victoria crown coin was issued to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria.
The Jubilee itself took place on 20 and 21 June and included a Thanksgiving Service at Westminster Abbey as we; as a banquet with several European Kings.
Jubilees are celebrated by millions of people, so it is only natural that a coin was issued in commemoration of the event. Another famous crown issued to commemorate a Jubilee is the 1977 Silver Jubilee crown.
Final Thoughts
The Queen Victoria 1887 crown coin is an interesting coin that is sought after by collectors.
If you happen to own an example, be sure to have it graded so you can find out how much it’s really worth.
