The Double Florin (4/-) was one of the shortest-lived British coin denominations ever, only being produced between 1887 and 1890. The silver coin weighed 22.6 grams and was 36 millimetres in diameter.
Double Florin - A denomination of four shillings struck only three times in our history. The first was issued in 1887, the Jubilee year of Queen Victoria, and continued on in general circulation until 1890.
The Double Florin
In 1887, at the time when Queen Victoria's portrait was changed to the 'Jubilee Head' design, Britain introduced an unusual coin, the Double Florin, valued at 4 shillings.
Pictures of a Double Florin.
Pictures Index
Help and Advice
I would be grateful if you could search the site carefully before mailing me - the answers to the great majority of the questions that I am asked can be found on this site, ...
There is some confusion about whether the largest coin is more correctly called a florin or a double florin. Spink, in it's earlier editions, calls the large coin a florin and the two smaller ones a half- and quarter-florin respectively.
Threepence .0420 Troy ounces
Sixpence .0841 Troy ounces
Shilling .1682 Troy ounces
Florin .3364 Troy ounces
Half Crown .4206 Troy ounces
Double Florins .6727 Troy ounces (1887-1890) ...
Multiples of the shilling included the silver two shillings or florin, the 30-pence piece or halfcrown, the four-shilling piece or double florin, coined only briefly during the reign of Victoria (1837-1901), ...
and farthing -- sometimes called a "bicycle," after the 19th century bicycles that had one large and one small wheel). Hence, for many years the Canadian silver Dollar was comparable in size to the briefly issued British 4 shilling (Double Florin) ...
A double florin was minted in 1887 but was not popular. Guineas were not minted after 1813. In the eighteenth century half, third, and quarter guineas were also minted. Two and five guinea coins belonged to an earlier age.
 See also: Florin, Double, Crown, Shilling, Coin
|
