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1899 Great Britain Maundy Twopence 2d Victoria Veiled Head Silver Rainbow Toning
Struck in 1899 during the final years of Queen Victoria\'s reign, this silver Maundy Twopence belongs to one of the most enduring traditions in British coinage. Maundy money traces its origins to the medieval ceremony of Royal Maundy, in which specially struck silver coins were distributed by the sovereign as acts of charity and devotion.
The obverse features Victoria\'s Veiled Head portrait, introduced in 1893 and showing the Queen in widow\'s dress following the death of Prince Albert. Around the portrait appears the Latin inscription:
VICTORIA DEI GRA BRITT REGINA FID DEF IND IMP
Translated:
Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen of Britain, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India.
The reverse displays the crowned numeral 2, representing the denomination of two pence, enclosed within an oak wreath tied with a bow. The date 1899 is divided around the denomination.
This coin was struck during the closing years of the Victorian era. Britain stood at the height of its global influence, with Victoria ruling over an empire that spanned continents. In 1899 the world stood on the threshold of a new century, while advances in industry, communications, transportation, and science were transforming everyday life across the empire.
More than a century later, this small silver issue remains a tangible connection to the final chapter of Victorian Britain and one of the Royal Mint\'s most historic ceremonial coinage traditions.
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# 40
