The English Penny
From Queen Victoria to George VI — A Coin of Empire and Evolution
From the Victorian zenith to the mid‑20th century, the humble English penny bore witness to monumental change—industrial might, world wars, abdications, and shifting numismatic trends. Here's a revised walkthrough, kingdom by reign:
1. Queen Victoria (1837–1901)
Young (or “Bun”) Head Penny (1860–1894): Designed by Leonard Charles Wyon, this bronze penny featured Victoria with hair tied in a bun—hence its name—and Britannia seated opposite (source) youtube.com+13en.wikipedia.org+13en.wikipedia.org+13.
Wyon, son of renowned engraver William Wyon, deep‑etched the design to produce bold detail before refining the dies for mass production (source) onlinecoin.club+4en.wikipedia.org+4westminstercollection.com+4.
These pennies remained in use until decimalization in 1971 (source) onlinecoin.club+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
Jubilee Head (1887–1894): Introduced to mark Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, this version—designed by Joseph Edgar Boehm—featured a veiled, crowned profile. It was unpopular and quickly replaced (source) silveragecoins.com+2britanniacoincompany.com+2baldwin.co.uk+2.
2. Edward VII (1901–1910)
The short-lived Edwardian penny presented a more naturalistic portrait of the coronet‑wearing king, crafted by George de Saulles. While its size and composition matched earlier pennies, it marked a transition from Victorian stylization to Edwardian realism (source) en.wikipedia.org+3britanniacoincompany.com+3chards.co.uk+3.
3. George V (1910–1936)
Pennies during George V’s reign bore the consistent Britannia reverse but saw small updates across his reign.
1933 coinage anomaly: No pennies were issued for circulation in 1933 due to a surplus, but at least seven were struck—three for foundation ceremonies and others for museum collections. Today, seven are recognized, including one unearthed from Senate House’s foundation (source) en.wikipedia.org+6baldwin.co.uk+6historyhit.com+6royalmintmuseum.org.uk+3en.wikipedia.org+3coincuriosity.com+3.
In addition, four artistic pattern coins by André Lavrillier exist, one of which sold in 2016 for over £86,000
(source) coincuriosity.com+15baldwin.co.uk+15coinworld.com+15.
4. Edward VIII (1936)
His short reign saw the design of coins—including pennies—but none were circulated. Many pattern pieces were created before his abdication in December 1936 (source) onlinecoin.club+15royalmintmuseum.org.uk+15en.wikipedia.org+15.
Approximately 49 pattern coins were rediscovered in 1970 and remain prized rarities (source) royalmint.com.
A pattern penny from 1937 sold for over £111,000 in 2019 (source) ringramcoins.com.
5. George VI (1936–1952)
George VI’s penny retained Britannia and was struck for circulation through 1950 (and 1951 in proof sets).
It bridged the wartime era into mid-century recovery, before being replaced by decimal currency in 1971 .
Why These Pennies Matter
Historical Chronology: Each penny encapsulates a monarch’s reign—Victoria’s vast empire, Edward VII’s modernization, World‑War I under George V, Edward VIII’s constitutional crisis, and George VI’s wartime resolve.
Artistic Evolution: The transitions from Wyon’s classical portraits to de Saulles’s realism and Cenotaph-era patterns reflect evolving aesthetics and minting technology.
Numismatic Rarities: Key exceptions—like the scarce 1933 penny and Edward VIII patterns—capture the imagination and underscore the penny’s collectible value.
Cultural Symbol: Britannia consistently adorned the reverse, symbolizing national identity, resilience, and unity through times of upheaval.
In Summary
From Victoria’s Bun Head of 1860 to George VI’s post-war penny, this single‐pence coin was far more than pocket change. It was a mirror to political shifts, artistic trends, metallurgical advancements, and national story‑telling.
Each dime‑like penny, whether utterly common or astonishingly rare, remains a remarkable tangible link to Britain's evolving identity.
