How to Identify the British Double Florin

Start with size and denomination. The Double Florin is a large sterling silver coin about 36 mm across and roughly 22.6 grams, slightly smaller and lighter than a British crown. Because the crown (five shillings) is so close in size, always confirm the denomination from the design rather than diameter alone.

Read the obverse. You should see Queen Victoria facing left in the "Jubilee Head" style, wearing a small crown set high on a veiled head, with a Latin legend naming her. This portrait was used across British silver from 1887, so on a Double Florin it should pair with the four-shilling reverse and a date between 1887 and 1890.

Check the reverse, which is the key identifier. Look for four crowned shields arranged as a cross, separated by scepters, carrying the arms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with Star of the Garter emblems filling the angles. This cruciform shields layout distinguishes the Double Florin from the crown of the same period, which shows St. George slaying the dragon instead.

Note date varieties. The 1887 coins exist with two forms of the numeral in the date, one with an Arabic "1" and one with a Roman-style "I," and these are collected separately. Later dates run 1888, 1889, and 1890. Genuine coins have a reeded (grooved) edge and ring as high-grade silver.

Authenticate with care. Confirm the coin is not a lower Victorian silver denomination sharing the Jubilee Head, such as the florin (two shillings) or halfcrown, which are smaller. Watch for polished or cleaned surfaces, tooling, and cast copies with soft detail or a seam on the edge. When value is significant, weigh and measure the coin and consult an experienced dealer or third-party grading service.