Coin

1 Penny - Victoria 2nd portrait; 1st type (1872) — United Kingdom

United Kingdom • 1872 • KM# 749, Sp# 3954, 3955

1 Penny - Victoria 2nd portrait; 1st type (1872) — United Kingdom

Overview

A Proof strike bronze 1 Penny coin of the United Kingdom from the reign of Queen Victoria, produced in 1872. The obverse features the 'Bun Head' portrait designed by Leonard Charles Wyon, and the reverse depicts a seated Britannia. This extremely rare piece was minted with a recorded mintage of just 1 and has a coin orientation.

Specifications

Country
United Kingdom
Year
1872
Composition
Bronze
Weight
9.45 g
Diameter
30.8 mm
Thickness
1.6 mm
Mint
Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom (1810-1975)
Shape
Round
Technique
Milled
References
KM# 749, Sp# 3954, 3955
Issuer
United Kingdom

Design details

Obverse

Second laureate and draped bust ('Bun Head') of Queen Victoria left, legend around.

Reverse

Seated figure of Britannia right with trident in left hand and shield bearing the Union flag in right, sea behind with lighthouse on left and ship on right, denomination around, date in exergue.

Collector insights

  • Design heritage: Leonard Charles Wyon is credited as the designer for the Standard circulation coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
  • Struck at: Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom (1810-1975). Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
  • Low mintage: Only 1 pieces reported. This puts the issue into key-date territory for its series; expect steep grade-based price scaling and a higher counterfeit risk — provenance and third-party grading matter.
  • Catalogue reference: Listed as KM# 749, Sp# 3954, 3955. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.

More from United Kingdom

Other 1 Penny - Victoria 2nd portrait; 1st type issues

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Browse more items in the full catalog or view United Kingdom in the country guide.