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The 1887 Double Florin represents one of the most unusual experiments in British coinage.
Issued during Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee year, it was intended to bridge traditional British denominations and a more decimal-oriented future. The public never embraced it. Many people found it too similar in size to the Crown, leading to confusion in everyday commerce.
As a result, the denomination survived only briefly and remains one of the most recognizable "failed experiments" of Victorian currency reform.
This coin circulated during:
Victoria's Golden Jubilee year
The height of the British Empire
The age of global steamship travel
The era of Sherlock Holmes' first appearances
The period when electric lighting and telephones were beginning to transform daily life
Shipping & Cost Transparency:
I believe in being fully transparent about costs so you know exactly what goes into getting this coin safely to your door.
Packaging Materials: $2.49
USPS Ground Advantage (Tracked): $8.75
Insurance: $4.40 per $50 of value
Total actual shipping cost: $16.00
This ensures the coin is fully protected, tracked, and insured for its full value.
Fully insured, tracked delivery allows you to acquire a piece like this securely—without the time and expense of long-distance travel or coordinating a local pickup. From the ease of your armchair, the transaction is simple and complete, replacing what was once a far more uncertain and often more costly search.
A quick note on marketplace costs:
To keep things consistent across listings, here’s a simple rule-of-thumb breakdown:
Shipping & insurance typically run about 10% of the item’s value (fully tracked and protected).
& payment processing fees are approximately 13.25% of the total (item + shipping).
Sales tax averages around 4–5% of the total (item + shipping) depending on location.
Altogether, roughly 25–28% of the total transaction goes toward platform, processing, tax, and secure delivery - rather than the coin itself.
Why mention this?
Simply to provide clear context.
makes it possible for collectors to connect directly across distances, with protection on both sides. These costs are part of that system, and part of what allows rare items like this to move safely from one collection to another.
Bottom line: You’re getting an honestly described, carefully handled historical coin, shipped securely and fully insured, with no hidden surprises.
If you’ve read this far, then I suspect this coin genuinely speaks to you, and that matters.
In my experience, many items are priced with negotiation in mind. Offers often move back and forth before landing somewhere both parties feel good about. Rather than play that game too heavily, I’ve tried to set this piece at a level where the final outcome feels fair on both sides, taking into account condition, rarity, and the real costs involved in bringing it to market.
That said, I’m always open to reasonable offers.
If you’re considering making one:
Reasonable offers are welcome. Thoughtful offers in the ~10–15% range tend to align well here and are often accepted
My goal is simple:
A clean, respectful transaction where the coin finds a collector who values it, and neither of us walks away feeling like the other ‘lost’. I wish for a straightforward exchange of real value, clear, fair, and well placed on both sides. Simply put: a fair price, a well-matched collector, and a piece of history placed exactly where it belongs. Thank you for your consideration.
Grading is subjective, and I make an authentic effort to grade conservatively so that buyers feel they were treated fairly. Many coins on the market are optimistically graded—I aim to err on the side of accuracy. That said, please refer to the photographs and judge for yourself before purchasing. Returns are accepted only if the item is materially not as described. The coin you will receive is the exact coin shown in the photos. Please review them carefully and decide if it’s a piece you’ll truly enjoy owning.
Packed with care using protective materials appropriate for numismatic items. Ships promptly after payment, typically on the first Saturday following purchase. Tracking will be uploaded at that time. Authenticity guaranteed.
If it speaks to you, feel free to act - pieces like this tend to find their place.
I don’t tend to hold inventory long at this level.
E#28
