An Unrecorded Pattern Shilling of 1840 – Gary Oddie

This note presents an 1840 shilling of Queen Victoria. It was initially considered to be a proof striking. However on closer inspection, the coin differs very slightly in almost every detail when compared to a circulating coin. On the obverse the hair is more finely engraved and in lower relief, and on the reverse the whole of the wreath is finer, leaving more “open space” between the design elements. The differences are extremely subtle but sufficient for the piece to be considered a pattern.