Queen Victoria. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the head of Alexandrina Victoria (1819-1901) on a three pence coin. She became queen of the then United Kingdom of Britain and Ireland when she was only 18 years old. In 1840 she married her first cousin Albert. Queen Victoria's 63 year reign is the longest in English history. A three pence coin was also called a threepenny or thruppenny bit, or thruppence. It was last minted for UK circulation in 1941. Magnification: x7 when printed 10cm high.