Cleveland Museum of Art

Five Pound Piece: Victoria (obverse); St. George and the Dragon (reverse)

Benedetto Pistrucci

Date: 1887
Medium: gold
Culture: England, Victoria, 1837-1901
Department: Medieval Art
Institution: Cleveland Museum of Art

The obverse design of this piece is usually known as the "Jubilee head," since 1887, the year of its production, was the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. By Sir Joseph Boehm, R.A., sculptor in ordinary to the queen, it caused a minor storm since it was said the tiny crown made the queen look ridiculous. The queen is said not to have liked the design herself, but she did in fact wear a small crown of this type when she began to find the full-size crown too heavy. The crown may be seen among the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. This piece was not made for circulation but was part of a proof set.

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