Victoria crown 1847

This silver Victoria Crown coin was created in 1847 by William Wyon, and is now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The coin's imagery, specifically the left-facing profile of Queen Victoria, tells us a great deal about the prevailing social structures in Victorian Britain. As a form of mass media, coins were crucial in disseminating the image and authority of the monarch. The design evokes classical antiquity, linking Victoria to a lineage of powerful rulers. But it's crucial to remember that this idealized image was circulated at a time of immense social upheaval, when Britain's class system and colonial practices were under increasing scrutiny. Examining sources like newspapers, political pamphlets, and economic data can reveal how this seemingly innocuous image was received and interpreted by different segments of society. We can see how the Crown served both as an instrument of economic exchange and a symbol of political power.