“The Queen's Head” by Sir Thomas Brock

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The Queen's Head

Sir Thomas Brock, K.C.B., R.A. 1847-1922

Silver

c. 1893

In addition to appearing on coins, Brock's portrait of the Queen was used on numerous medals, including the India General Service Medal 1895, the Royal Victorian Medal 1896 and the Diamond Jubilee Commemorative Medal 1897. The image shown here is that of a medal, which is generally handled more carefully and so photographs better. The trace of its suspension "loop" is visible at the top.

Photograph and text kindly provided by John Sankey, whose copyright they remain.

In 1891 the Chancellor of the Exchequer appointed a committee to recommend a new coinage to replace the unpopular Golden Jubilee coins designed by Sir Edgar Boehm. The chairman was a banker but the most influential member was Sir Frederic Leighton, President of the Royal Academy. Seven artists were invited to submit designs and the committee selected Thomas Brock's "dignified and distinctive" design of the Queen's head (qtd. in Stocker 73). At the committee's request, Brock replaced the small crown and laurel wreath with a tiara and veil and added the letters IND IMP (Empress of India). The new coinage was authorised” by royal proclamation on 30 January 1893 and was widely welcomed. The gold and silver coins were minted from 1893 but the copper coins were not issued until 1895. Brock ensured that his role in the coinage would be recorded for posterity” by having his initials TB engraved immediately below the Queen's bust.

Bibliography

Stocker, Mark. "The Coinage of 1893." The British Numismatic Journal. Vol. 66 (1996).

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Last modified 14 August 2010