Description:
English penny model silver and bronze
Victorian
Diameter 21mm
The obverse features the 'young head' bust of Victoria facing left. The inscription reads 'VICTORIA REG:', Latin, abbreviated for 'Queen Victoria', on the silver centre. A second inscription, 'ONE PENNY.MODEL', is on the bronze surround. The reverse features the number '1' on the silver centre with the inscription 'ONE PENNY.MODEL' around the outside. Model coins such as this one were produced by the Birmingham medallist Joseph Moore (1817-1892). They were designed as a possible new coinage to replace the existing heavy copper coins. They were all made up of two different metals and were smaller and lighter than the existing coinage of the 1840s.