The 1847 Gothic Crown is widely regarded as the most beautiful British crown ever struck — William Wyon’s Gothic-revival portrait of a crowned Victoria with blackletter legends. A low mintage of 8,000 makes any example a trophy for British type collectors.
Key facts
- Denomination: crown = 5 shillings; designed by William Wyon, Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint.
- Reported mintage of 8,000 pieces; 38.61 mm diameter, ~28.28 g.
- Obverse: crowned “Gothic” bust of Victoria with Latin legend in blackletter script (“Victoria dei gratia Britanniar. reg: f: d.”); reverse: cruciform shields of England, Scotland, and Ireland with the national floral emblems (rose, thistle, shamrock, leek) and the legend “tueatur unita deus anno dom mdcccxlvii.”
- Edge lettered “decus et tutamen anno regni undecimo” (UN DECIMO) — “an ornament and a safeguard in the eleventh year of the reign.”
- Only two dates exist: 1847 and a proof-only 1853 issue.
- A plain-edge variety struck in fine silver exists and is far rarer than the lettered UN DECIMO type (Heritage reports a ceiling grade of PR65 at NGC/PCGS).
- Authentication notes: always buy certified for this issue — counterfeits of famous crowns circulate, and edge lettering is a key diagnostic to verify on a genuine example.