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The 2019 UK 5 Pound Tower of London Raven Coin; Celebrating Victoria Day with a gift from Silversaver888

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”Black birds tend to like Shiny Things.” ~ The Bloody Raven

In keeping with the local Victoria Day celebration I am appropriately dressed in Neo-Victorian Gothic Lolita style and plan to having some tea later. Alas, it would be simply topping if the #ladiesofsgs4eva have a little English tea party together one day and I do favor Orange Pekoe with Shortbread cookies, Perhaps one day…

Let us get to the coin in Question

Lovely cover, Historic Royal Palaces. I like it already!

I see Charles II was quite the superstitious king adding to these birds their spooky reputation.

Methinks, I shall save the story and legend part for a Hallows Eve blog.

Back before 1871 British Columbia was a hotbed of English culture with the colony was fast growing with immigration from Asia, Europe, and the US. To the English segment the remote colony it was far removed from their home country. In 1858 New Westminster was established as the capital of this fledgling colony that almost grew unrestricted from the bounty of natural resources and the enormous boom triggered by the massive draw of the Caribou Gold Rush.

2019 5 Pounds : Tower of London Series Raven

Reverse: Raven looking right, TOWER OF LONDON, GD

Cooper Nickel, 28.28g

38.61mm Diameter

Reference # yet to be available

Sure tough getting a decent picture and its no wonder that no one listing this coin uses the actual picture but rather the artist’s illustration. Trust me, the coin is lovely. The Camera just can’t get an idea shot from the Mirror finish. Darn, that isn’t a milk spot is it? On Cupro-Nickel?

2019 5 Pounds : Tower of London Series Raven

Obverse; Elizabeth II 5th Portait facing right,

Legend; ELIZABETH II·D·G·REG·F·D·5 POUNDS·2019, J.C

Edge; Milled

Mintage yet to be Published

This coin is so my style. Thank you my thoughtful and beautiful Sister @silversaver888 and I am so pleased to be a member of #ladiesofsgs4eva .

As New Westminster and surrounding area grew, the English residents imported their traditions such as the long running May Day celebrations, more formally called the Hyack Festival. And a climatic highlight of the festival is the Hyack Anvil battery salute established by the original New Westminster Fire Brigade.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUSFlCPbNic

In place of the standard 21 gun salute, a pair of steel anvils are set atop of one another with a charge of gunpowder in between are touched off upon orders with a wick set on a long pole. Proper artillery was already committed to readiness and were in service so It was hard to procure cannons for the celebrations, but this tradition maintained it’s novel appeal since.

Matches my Older Tower of London Coin!

Tower of London Tourist Token

Reverse; Raven on the castle wall

Nickel

44.45mm Diameter, 2.38mm Thickness

Cosidered as Exonumia, a Tourist token for visitors to the famous Tower back in 1978 to my surprise is not Bronze but Nickel as the tarnished finish simulated a gold-like appearance of Royal money may simply a bronze plating. I never did find out how my father got this token as he never mentioned travelling to London.

Tower of London Tourist Token

Three Varieties; No Date, 1978, 1979

Mintages are unknown

Classified as Exonumia

There was the issue of political loyalties. A long unsettling race to draw up the borders between Canada and the US with claims, counterclaims and disputes that in some cases came close to blows. Stationed in Sapperton, New Westminster an English military garrison of The British Royal Engineers commanded by Richard Clement Moody, should the Americans or even the Russians made good their threat to take the region into their influence. Other settlements like Fort Victoria built in in 1843 on Vancouver Island eventually became Victoria City, and Fort Langley became the township of Langley.

Eventually, Canada made an offer to the Colony of British Columbia our forefathers couldn’t refuse, the Promise of protection and the Railroad to link Canada from coast to coast. That’s another story.

And now for something really English in Sterling Silver!

1889 Crown Victoria

Reverse; St. George and the Dragon, 1889, BP

Silver 0.925, 28.28g

38.61mm Diameter

Some of my YouTube friends may remember this Beautiful English Crown from a Scottish gentleman of fine reputation named Big Lory. I cherish this crown when he sent this silver crown along with a silver 1937 Scottish shilling to me as a gift for being a Subscriber and active participant on his channel. He had passed on but I fondly remember his dedication, knowledge, Scottish humor, love of family and his unwavering sense of Liberty.

1889 Crown Victoria

Obverse; Victoria 2nd Portrait

Legend; VICTORIA D:G: BRITT: REG: F:D:

Reference KM# 765, SP# 3921

Mintage of 1,807,200

Queen Victoria never looked better than on this huge coin, one of my favorites along with the sentimental memories of the kind gentleman that valued friendships just as much as the silver he stacked.

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Updates

Since the Pandemic panic seems to be leveling off, I may get some extra time off to catch up on some writing.

As to my current project I am still determined to complete the Teresa D’Mordecai arc as I have some real life issues to deal with in a busy 2020 and so much work in progress. And I still need a few more pieces to fill out my select silver Mexican coin collection.

Drats, I should be wearing my Granny boots with spats than these chunky Mary Jane Lolita shoes.

And Thank You for visiting my blog this sunny holiday of Victoria Day

References

  1. My own pictures shot with a Samsung SM-A530W

P. Image under Pixabay

R. Clip art from 123RF

W. Wiki Commons

Sources

Wiki; History of British Columba

Wiki; New Westminster

The Hyack Festival Assn. Hyack

Banner by @thekittygirl

“Et lux in tenebris to serve laboro, sum sicarius” “I work in the shadows to serve the Light, I am an Assassin”