Old penny or something

[Tommy G.]

I found an old penny in my garden when digging recently. Its English and i think its a penny, its about an inch diameter and is Victorian with a picture of Queen Victoria on the back. It says "VICTORIA D.G. BRITT:REG:F:D" on the back and 1860 on the front. 1860 is written underneath the same symbol from a Brittish 50pence coin. Is this coin valuable?

[kempie]

A penny of that era measures 34mm in diameter.
A halfpenny measures 25-28mm.

Between 1797 and 1860 British 'copper' coins were minted, as the name implies, from copper; after 1860 they were minted from bronze.

This means that 1860 coins exist either as copper or bronze. Copper coins have the date under Victoria's head and bronze coins have the date under the figure of Britannia. Therefore your coin must be of bronze (a pity since the copper versions appear to be quite valuable).

The coin should also have "ONE PENNY" (or "HALF PENNY") raised about the figure of Britannia as shown here and here. If this wording has worn off if may greatly affect the value of your coin.

A guide for values of coins in decent condition can be found here...

http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/values/penny.h tml#QV

http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/values/halfp.h tml#QV

[Scylax]

The inscription on these, and many other such coins, is
Victoria, die gratia, Brittannia Regina, Fidei Defensor, or
Victoria, by the grace of God queen of Britain, Defender of the Faith. The latter title has been held by all British monarchs since Henry V111, on whom it was conferred by the Pope - ironic, since it refers to the Roman Catholic faith, which Henry abandoned soon afterwards

[Tommy G.]

Cheers everyone. I'm afraid the words have worn off but nevertheless you've all been very helpful and informative, so thanks.