Victoria Bun Head – (1860 – 1895)

Design types are detailed below, once you have identified and noted the relevant “design type” select a date to view specific variety images, die combinations and minor varieties

1860  1861  1862  1863  1864  1865  1866  1867  1868  1869  1872  1873  1874

1875  1876  1877  1878  1879  1880  1881  1882  1883  1884  1885  1886  1887

1888  1890  1891  1892  1893  1894  1895

Farthing Diameter : 20mm Farthing Thickness : Farthing Weight : 2.7 – 2.9g Farthing Edge : Plain
Obverse Design 1 (1860)
	Victoria’s bust facing left, wearing a bodice and mantle. A rose is situated centrally at the neckline of the bodice. The mantle is embroidered with a rose, thistle and shamrock design. As the mantle wraps behind the shoulder a portion of the Star of the Garter is visible, notably a part of the legend “HONI S” can be seen. A wreath containing 5 berries and 14 leaves is around the head. The wreath is tied behind the head with a ribbon, the ends of which trail loosely behind. The hair is swept down and tied in a pleated bun behind the head. The legend which reads “VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D:” is interrupted by the head between G: and BRITT:, The legend is an abbreviated translation of “VICTORIA by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith” The border consists of detached circular beads, and the beads sit inside a small raised rim.
Obverse Design 2 (1860 & 1861)
	Similar to Obverse 1, with Victoria’s bust facing left, wearing a bodice and mantle. A rose is situated centrally at the neckline of the bodice. The mantle is embroidered with a rose, thistle and shamrock design. As the mantle wraps behind the shoulder a portion of the Star of the Garter is visible, notably a part of the legend “HONI S” can be seen. A wreath containing 4 berries and 14 leaves is around the head. The wreath is tied behind the head with a ribbon, the ends of which trail loosely behind. The hair is swept down and tied in a pleated bun behind the head. The legend which reads “VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D:” is interrupted by the head between G: and BRITT:, The legend is an abbreviated translation of “VICTORIA by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith” The border consists of teeth, and the teeth sit inside a small raised rim.
Obverse Design 3 (1860 – 1873)
	Similar to Obverse 2, with Victoria’s bust facing left, wearing a bodice and mantle. A rose is situated centrally at the neckline of the bodice. The mantle is embroidered with a rose, thistle and shamrock design. As the mantle wraps behind the shoulder a portion of the Star of the Garter is visible, notably a part of the legend “HONI S” can be seen. A wreath containing 5 berries and 14 leaves is around the head. The wreath is tied behind the head with a ribbon, the ends of which trail loosely behind. The hair is swept down and tied in a pleated bun behind the head. The legend which reads “VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D:” is interrupted by the head between G: and BRITT:, The legend is an abbreviated translation of “VICTORIA by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith” The border consists of teeth, and the teeth sit inside a small raised rim.
Obverse Design 4 (1874)
	Similar to Obverse 3, with Victoria’s bust facing left, wearing a bodice and mantle. A rose is situated centrally at the neckline of the bodice, although only the top portion is now visible. The mantle is embroidered with a rose, thistle and shamrock design. As the mantle wraps behind the shoulder a portion of the Star of the Garter is visible, notably a part of the legend “HONI S” can be seen. A wreath containing 4 berries and 14 leaves is around the head. The wreath is tied behind the head with a ribbon, the ends of which trail loosely behind. The hair is swept down and tied in a pleated bun behind the head. The legend which reads “VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D:” is interrupted by the head between G: and BRITT:, The legend is an abbreviated translation of “VICTORIA by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith” The border consists of teeth, and the teeth sit inside a small raised rim.
Obverse Design 5 (1875 – 1880)
	Similar to Obverse 4, with Victoria’s bust facing left, wearing a bodice and mantle. A rose is situated centrally at the neckline of the bodice, although only the top portion is visible. The mantle is embroidered with a rose, thistle and shamrock design. As the mantle wraps behind the shoulder a portion of the Star of the Garter is visible, notably a part of the legend “HONI S” can be seen. A wreath containing 4 berries and 14 leaves is around the head. The wreath is tied behind the head with a ribbon, the ends of which trail loosely behind. The hair is swept down and tied in a pleated bun behind the head. The legend which reads “VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D:” is interrupted by the head between G: and BRITT:, The legend is an abbreviated translation of “VICTORIA by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith” The border consists of teeth, and the teeth sit inside a small raised rim.
Obverse Design 6 (1880 & 1881)
	Similar to Obverse 5, with Victoria’s bust facing left, wearing a bodice and mantle. A rose is situated centrally at the neckline of the bodice, although only the top portion is visible. The mantle is embroidered with a rose, thistle and shamrock design. As the mantle wraps behind the shoulder a portion of the Star of the Garter is visible, notably a part of the legend “HONI S” can be seen. A wreath containing 3 berries and 14 leaves is around the head. The wreath is tied behind the head with a ribbon, the ends of which trail loosely behind. The hair is swept down and tied in a pleated bun behind the head. The legend which reads “VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D:” is interrupted by the head between G: and BRITT:, The legend is an abbreviated translation of “VICTORIA by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith” The border consists of teeth, and the teeth sit inside a small raised rim.
Obverse Design 7 (1881 – 1895)
	Similar to Obverse 6, with Victoria’s bust facing left, wearing a bodice and mantle. A rose is situated centrally at the neckline of the bodice, although only the top portion is visible. The mantle is embroidered with a rose, thistle and shamrock design. As the mantle wraps behind the shoulder a portion of the Star of the Garter is visible, notably a part of the legend “HONI S” can be seen. A wreath containing 3 berries and 14 leaves is around the head. The wreath is tied behind the head with a ribbon, the ends of which trail loosely behind. The hair is swept down and tied in a pleated bun behind the head. The legend which reads “VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D:” is interrupted by the head between G: and BRITT:, The legend is an abbreviated translation of “VICTORIA by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britains, Defender of the Faith” The border consists of teeth, and the teeth sit inside a small raised rim.
Reverse Design A (1860)
	Seated Britannia facing right, wearing a plumed helmet, breast plate, sandals, and long flowing robes. Her right hand rests on an oval shield bearing the combined crosses of the Union Flag, which are depicted by double incuse lines and the left hand is holding an ornamental trident which has holes beneath each of the prongs. To the left of the shield is a lighthouse surrounded by a cluster of rocks, the rocks to the left are small and sharp in design. On the opposite side of Britannia is a sailing ship. The denomination “FARTHING” is above, and the date is in exergue. The border consists of detached circular beads, and the beads sit inside a small raised rim.
Reverse Design B (1860 – 1873 & 1875)
	Similar to Reverse A, with seated Britannia facing right, wearing a plumed helmet, breast plate, sandals, and long flowing robes. Her right hand rests on an oval shield bearing the combined crosses of the Union Flag, which are depicted by double incuse lines and the left hand is holding an ornamental trident which has holes beneath each of the prongs. To the left of the shield is a lighthouse surrounded by a cluster of rocks. On the opposite side of Britannia is a sailing ship. The denomination “FARTHING” is above, and the date is in exergue. The border is toothed, and the teeth sit inside a small raised rim.
Reverse Design C (1874 – 1881)
	Similar to Reverse B, with seated Britannia facing right, wearing a plumed helmet, breast plate, sandals, and long flowing robes. Her right hand rests on an oval shield bearing the combined crosses of the Union Flag, which are depicted by double incuse lines and the left hand is holding an ornamental trident. To the left of the shield is a lighthouse surrounded by a cluster of rocks On the opposite side of Britannia is a sailing ship. The denomination “FARTHING” is above, and the date is in exergue. The border is toothed, and the teeth sit inside a small raised rim.
Reverse Design D (1880)
	Similar to Reverse C, with seated Britannia facing right, wearing a plumed helmet, breast plate, sandals, and long flowing robes. Her right hand rests on an oval shield bearing the combined crosses of the Union Flag, which are depicted by double incuse lines and the left hand is holding an ornamental trident. To the left of the shield is a lighthouse surrounded by a cluster of rocks. On the opposite side of Britannia is a sailing ship. The denomination “FARTHING” is above, and the date is in exergue. The border is toothed, and the teeth sit inside a small raised rim.
Reverse Design E (1881)
	Similar to Reverse C, with seated Britannia facing right, wearing a plumed helmet, breast plate, sandals, and long flowing robes. Her right hand rests on an oval shield bearing the combined crosses of the Union Flag, which are depicted by double incuse lines, heraldic colouring is applied to the shield in the form of hatching (although the lower limbs of the diagonal cross are hatched in their left halves by error) and the left hand is holding an ornamental trident. To the left of the shield is a lighthouse surrounded by a cluster of rocks. On the opposite side of Britannia is a sailing ship. The denomination “FARTHING” is above, and the date is in exergue. The border is toothed, and the teeth sit inside a small raised rim.
Reverse Design F (1882 – 1895)
	Similar to Reverse E, with seated Britannia facing right, wearing a plumed helmet, breast plate, sandals, and long flowing robes. Her right hand rests on an oval shield bearing the combined crosses of the Union Flag, which are depicted by double incuse lines, heraldic colouring is applied to the shield in the form of hatching and the left hand is holding an ornamental trident. To the left of the shield is a lighthouse surrounded by a cluster of rocks. On the opposite side of Britannia is a sailing ship. The denomination “FARTHING” is above, and the date is in exergue. The border is toothed, and the teeth sit inside a small raised rim.