1872H Canadian 50 Cents — ICCS VF-20 | A/A-2 | Queen Victoria | Heaton Mint

1872H Canadian Fifty Cents — ICCS Certified VF-20 | Very Fine | A/A-2 Variety | Queen Victoria | Heaton Mint

A solid and historically significant example of the 1872H Canadian Fifty Cent piece, independently certified by the International Coin Certification Service (ICCS) and graded VF-20 (Very Fine) with the variety comment A/A-2. The coin displays even, moderate wear across the high points with all major design elements clearly defined — the bold maple leaf wreath of the reverse retains good detail throughout, and the Queen Victoria “Young Head” portrait is well-defined with pleasing character. A problem-free example of this early Confederation-era Canadian silver issue with a documented die variety.

Certification Details

• Country: Canada
• Year: 1872H
• Denomination: 50 Cents
• Grade: VF-20 (Very Fine)
• Comments: A/A-2
• Certification No.: XVY 815
• Certifying Body: ICCS (International Coin Certification Service)

Coin Specifications

• Composition: 92.5% Silver, 7.5% Copper
• Diameter: 29.72 mm
• Weight: 11.66 g
• Edge: Reeded
• Obverse Designer: Leonard Charles Wyon (Queen Victoria “Young Head” effigy)
• Reverse Designer: L.C. Wyon (Maple wreath design)
• Mint: Heaton Mint, Birmingham, England (“H” mintmark)

The A/A-2 Variety

This example carries the ICCS-noted variety comment A/A-2, indicating a repunched or overdate letter variety on the obverse — a die variety of collector interest in the Victorian Canadian fifty-cent series. The variety is documented directly on the ICCS certification label, providing independent authentication of its presence and adding meaningful numismatic interest beyond the base coin.

Design & Historical Significance

The obverse features the graceful right-facing “Young Head” portrait of Queen Victoria by Leonard Charles Wyon, inscribed VICTORIA DEI GRATIA REGINA CANADA. The reverse displays the denomination 50 CENTS within a bold maple leaf wreath surmounted by the Imperial Crown, with the date 1872 at the bottom — one of the most elegant designs in the Canadian series.

The “H” mintmark denotes production at the Heaton Mint in Birmingham, England, one of the premier private mints of the Victorian era. Canadian coinage was frequently struck at Heaton during this period when Royal Mint capacity was insufficient to meet demand. The Heaton Mint issues are distinguished from Ottawa and London Royal Mint strikes and are collected as a distinct subset by specialists in Victorian Canadian coinage.

Struck just five years after Confederation, the 1872H fifty-cent piece is a genuine piece of early Canadian history — a large silver coin circulating in a young nation still establishing its identity and institutions. Examples in any grade with documented varieties are actively sought by collectors of Victorian Canadian silver and early Confederation coinage.

Why This Coin Belongs in Your Collection

Imagine holding a large silver half dollar struck in Birmingham in 1872 — just five years after Canada became a nation — that has survived over 150 years to reach you in solid Very Fine condition with a documented die variety. The 1872H is a Heaton Mint issue with genuine early Confederation historical resonance, and this ICCS-certified VF-20 A/A-2 example offers both numismatic significance and variety collector appeal in a single problem-free coin.

Encapsulated in an original ICCS sealed holder. Tampering with the holder invalidates the certification opinion. Have holder replaced if inner package/seal is not intact.

The ICCS-certified coin shown is the exact coin you will receive. Guaranteed authentic.