The British 1862 Penny, designed by Benjamin Wyon, featured Queen Victoria on the obverse and a shield with a crown on the reverse. Struck in 95.5% copper, the 1862 Penny reflected Britain’s industrial expansion and growing global influence during the Victorian era. The coin was part of the Penny series, which helped standardize currency as Britain solidified its financial power worldwide.
Politically, the British 1862 Penny was issued during a time of significant change in British politics and the economy, including the Reform Act of 1867, which extended voting rights. The coin’s copper content symbolized Britain’s robust industrial economy, marking the nation’s continued dominance in global trade. The 1862 Penny remains a symbol of Victorian Britain’s economic and political transformations.