Pattern penny of Queen Victoria 1860

This gold pattern penny of Queen Victoria was created by Joseph Moore in 1860. The laurel wreath adorning her profile echoes the visual vocabulary of ancient Greece and Rome, where it symbolized victory, triumph, and status. This motif, deeply rooted in classical antiquity, experienced a rebirth during the Renaissance, resurfacing on coinage, sculptures, and paintings to denote honor and prestige. Consider how Roman emperors were crowned with laurel, a tradition adopted and adapted by subsequent rulers and artists throughout European history. This appropriation demonstrates the cyclical nature of symbols, their meanings evolving through cultural memory and association. The wreath, a potent signifier, speaks to a collective subconscious, triggering associations with power, achievement, and the enduring legacy of empires. The visual language of authority transcends time, a testament to our ongoing fascination with symbols of dominance.