The British 1899 Penny, designed by Sir Edgar Bertram MacKennal, featured a portrait of Queen Victoria on the obverse and a seated Britannia on the reverse. Struck in bronze (95% copper, 4% tin, and 1% zinc), it represented Britain’s peak during the Victorian era. In 1899, Britain maintained its position as a global power, but the Second Boer War signaled the start of challenges to its imperial dominance.
Politically, Queen Victoria reigned during a time of imperial expansion and social reform. The British 1899 Penny, with its copper-based composition, reflected a stable economy, while MacKennal’s design underscored Britain’s continued pride and resilience in a changing world.