Hi, I am new here and I need a little help! I have found a very tiny silver coin; only 1cm accross. On one side is an early Queen Victoria head with the words Victoria Regina around it, and on the other side is a figure on a rearing horse, which appears to be stamping on somthing, and judging by the words below, (St George), it must be a dragon. There is no date on it, but the coin is in such an excellent condition and so shiny you would swear it had been minted in the last few years! I can't find a picture of it anywhere. What do you think folks; what is it?!
Sterling silver (.925) pennies that size were minted with Victoria's bust from 1838-1901, but they were all dated and had a crowned "1" inside a wreath on the reverse. With very low mintages, they were included in the Queen's charitable Maundy Money sets. The smallest coins with St. George slaying the dragon on the reverse appear to be the ~22mm Sovereigns minted from 1871-1901. The probability is that you have a play money coin, very likely struck in a silvery-colored metal and not real silver.
These are referred to as Toy money, and actually they were miniatures made ca. 1840's to the late 19th century and children of modest means used them for that purpose. The manufacturers of these pieces competed with one another on quality, so much so that you can actually find some highly detailed pieces in miniature that have amazing designs considering their diminutive sizes. I have a Queen Victoria medallet that is similar and about 8mm in diameter.
Thats brilliant thanks! well, it's amazing that it didn't get lost, and you know survived, considering it's size! It actually turned up in a charity box, (my dad is the treasurer for a local charity branch), so someone had that in their purse or whatever and chucked it in the box. Isn't that bizare?!
I have asked to ask you if you think it is worth anything considering it's quality and the fact that it was found in a charity box. it would be good to know if it might have some worth that would benefit the charity in any small way. Gosh left to me with my love of history, I would hang on to it. It's such a fascinating little piece!
