Silver Britannia

British Silver Britannias

The British Royal Mint, known for high quality coinage and bullion, has been manufacturing British Silver Britannias in annual limited releases since 1997. In the years since its introduction, the Silver Britannia has become one of the world’s leading silver coins. Since these coins are made by a sovereign mint under strict production standards, they qualify for most precious metals IRA accounts. This is just one more reason why Silver Britannias are a great choice for both investors and collectors.

The obverse of the Silver Britannia pays homage to Queen Elizabeth II, who is the longest reigning British monarch to date. Here you will see a beautifully designed portrait of Her Majesty, sculpted by Royal Mint engraver Jody Clark. This is the fifth effigy of the Queen to be used on UK coinage. Each of the five portraits was sculpted by a different artist to resemble the Queen throughout the decades of her reign.

Britannia stands confidently on the reverse, carrying Poseidon’s trident, a shield, and an olive branch. This internationally recognized figure is the female embodiment of the British Isles, representing strength and integrity. Her name comes from the ancient Greek term for the region. Britannia has been featured on coinage dating back to Roman times under the rule of Emperor Hadrian, and now she adorns the nation’s modern bullion products.

A Note on Britannia

Britannia first appeared on British coinage in 1672, which led to her becoming a mainstay on coinage from then on. She was struck onto pennies issued under every monarch beginning in 1767 until decimalization. Afterwards, she appeared on 50 pence coins until 2008.

Britannia’s maritime motifs have been increasingly emphasized with each of her incarnations on coins. Her spear became a trident, and she is often pictured by the sea.

2017 marks the 30th anniversary of Britannia standing tall on British bullion. Her original bullion design began with sculptor Philip Nathan in 1987, which was featured on the British Gold Britannia. Her strength can be seen as she wears a Corinthian helmet and a powerful gale whips against her shield.

This design carried over the Silver Britannia when it was released, following the success of the Gold Britannia. To celebrate the Silver Britannia’s 20th anniversary in 2017, a radial sunburst background was added to enhance the coin’s security.

Other Changes with Britannia Coinage

Apart from subtle design changes in the Queen’s effigy and the visage of Britannia, the Silver Britannias have seen other minor changes over the years. Most notably, Silver Britannia coins have become more pure in recent years. From 1997 to 2012, Silver Britannias contained .958 fine silver. The coins minted from 2013 on contain .999 fine silver. This higher purity has made Silver Britannias notable in the modern international coin market.

In celebration of the Silver Britannia’s 20th anniversary in 2017, the Royal Mint added micro-inscribed radial lines behind the beloved Britannia design. These act as a form of security and provide an anti-counterfeiting measure.

About the British Royal Mint

With roots stemming back over 1,000 years, the British Royal Mint had its humble beginnings as the London Mint in the 800s. This was just one of many mints in the United Kingdom during the time. By the 1200s, the London Mint moved its location to the Tower of London, where it gained a minting monopoly that lasted for 500 years.

From 1699 until his death in 1727, Sir Isaac Newton held the post of Master of the Royal Mint. He was more notably known as a mathematician. However, Newton was responsible for moving British currency from the Pound Sterling to the Gold Standard in 1717.

The mint fell under the rule of the Royal Family, and eventually went on to become a limited company. This new operation began producing all circulation coinage for the UK, along with coinage for 60 other countries. The mint now produces about 15 percent of the world’s coinage.

Why Should I Invest in the Silver Britannia?

Like most sovereign minted silver bullion coins, the silver Britannia consists of one troy ounce of .999 fine silver, it functions as legal tender, and its weight and purity are guaranteed by a sovereign entity. Consequently, the British Silver Britannia is a great investment coins, and it qualifies to be included in self-directed precious metals IRAs. Additionally, because the each year’s mintage is limited, and because design elements change over time, the silver Britannia is also attractive to coin collectors.

If you’d like to take part in the rich tradition of the Royal Mint while investing in your financial future, the British Silver Britannia is a solid choice for your bullion collection. Shop Provident’s selection today!