“Stop to admire this "Gothic" crown, a beautiful silver coin from 1847 featuring a youthful Queen Victoria. Its intricate details and medieval-inspired design make it a fascinating blend of art and history.”
This silver crown, minted in 1847, presents a youthful Queen Victoria in profile, her hair intricately braided and adorned with a wreath. The design, known as the "Gothic" crown, is a testament to the mid-19th century's fascination with medieval aesthetics, a style that permeated architecture, fashion, and even coinage. The elaborate details of Victoria's portrait and the surrounding inscription reflect the era's sophisticated engraving techniques, showcasing a blend of classical portraiture with a distinctly romantic, historical sensibility. It is a remarkable example of how a functional object like currency can also be a miniature work of art, conveying both national identity and artistic trends.
- Artist
- William Wyon
- Date
- 1847
- Medium
- Silver
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 155 mm.
- Collection
- European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
- Culture
- British
- Credit line
- Gift of Assunta Sommella Peluso, Ada Peluso, and Romano I. Peluso, in memory of Ignazio Peluso, 2000
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The intricate Gothic lettering around the queen's portrait.
Victoria's elaborate braided hairstyle and floral wreath.
The delicate details of the crown she wears on the reverse.
The heraldic shields on the reverse, representing England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Victoria "Gothic" crown — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
William Wyon
1795–1851 · British EmpireWilliam Wyon, Chief Engraver at the Royal Mint, left an indelible mark on British coinage and even the world's first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black.
Further Works by Wyon
George III "Incorrupta" crown
1817 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
"Three Graces" crown
1817 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Study for "Flying Victory"
1825 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
George IV crown
1826 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Coronation of William IV
1831 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
William IV proof crown
1831 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Queen Victoria's Visit to the Corporation of London
1837 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Victoria proof sovereign
1837 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond Wyon: works from the same years.
Same era · 1830s–1860s
The Cottage by the Roadside, Stormy Sky
Léon-Victor Dupré · 1855 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
The Backgammon Players
Philip Webb · 1861 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Wooded Landscape
Gustave Courbet · 1848 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion
Eugène Delacroix · 1849 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Mount Chocorua and Moat Mountain from North Conway
William Hart · 1850
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Young Woman
Jean-François Millet · 1844 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Snow Storm: Steam-Boat off a Harbour's Mouth
J. M. W. Turner · 1842 · National Gallery
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Olive Trees
Vincent van Gogh · 1853 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1830s–1860s
The Virgin Adoring the Host
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres · 1841 · Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Young Spartan Girls Challenging Boys
Edgar Degas · 1860 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1830s–1860s
A Sketch
Mariano Fortuny Marsal · 1862 · Hispanic Society of America
Same era · 1830s–1860s
Portrait of Fred Adelbert Haywood
School of William Matthew Prior · 1848 · Art Institute of Chicago
