Half crown coin, 1842

This coin is a half-crown (two shillings and sixpence). It was legal tender in Victoria and may even have been collected in Melbourne as it came to the Museum through the local collector Alfred Chitty. The wear on the coin shows that it was collected from circulation, not purchased from a London coin dealer - there were no coin dealers in Melbourne when Chitty was collecting.

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Click to enlarge. (65kb)

Obverse – Head of Queen Victoria facing left. Around it is the Latin legend VICTORIA DEI GRATIA 1842 [Victoria by the Grace of God 1842].		Reverse – Within a wreath are the crowned arms of Great Britain, around which, continuing from the obverse, is the Latin legend BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID: DEF: [Queen of the Britons, Defender of the Faith].

Donated by Alfred Chitty, 1922