Lot #431: Vintage 1864 Colonial New Brunswick Bronze One Cent Coin

The Obverse features the "Laureate Head" of a young Queen Victoria facing left, her hair bound by a laurel wreath. Inscribed "VICTORIA D: G: BRITT: REG: F: D:" (Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen of the Britons, Defender of the Faith). The Reverse shows a decorative circular wreath of maple leaves and mayflowers (the floral emblem of Nova Scotia/New Brunswick) tied at the bottom with a ribbon. The denomination “ONE CENT” and the date “1864” are centered within the wreath. A small crown surmounts the opening of the wreath. The issuing state "NEW BRUNSWICK" below. This coin is a significant piece of Canadian numismatic history, as it represents one of the final independent coinage issues for the Colony of New Brunswick before it joined Confederation in 1867. This coin was struck at the Royal Mint in London, this was the second and final date (the first was 1861) for the New Brunswick decimal cent. It was issued to replace the British pound/shilling system with a dollar-based system to facilitate easier trade with the United States and the Province of Canada. These coins remained in circulation long after 1867, eventually being accepted as equivalent to the Canadian large cents at par. Because they were minted in relatively low quantities, they are highly sought after by North American colonial collectors. Small Hole near Top. Dimensions: Bronze. 25.4 mm. 5.7 g. Pickup category timeslot {A}