3 Pence - Victoria 2nd portrait, incl. Maundy

The 1887 coinage reform that introduced this portrait was driven partly by public ridicule of the "bun" effigy Victoria had worn on coins since 1860 — caricaturists had been merciless for years. The new Jubilee head by Joseph Boehm was itself controversial, widely criticized as unflattering, and was replaced again by 1893.

Threepences of this type did double duty: ordinary currency strikes and Maundy sets were both produced annually, though the Maundy pieces received a superior polish. The two Spink references reflect that distinction rather than any substantive design difference.