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British Silver Britannia
The Silver Britannia has been a highly-prized coin since 1997. From a historical perspective, the figure Britannia symbolizes Great Britain in elegant (and fierce) female form, which is one of the reasons why it is repeatedly a top-seller in England and around the world. First emerging 2,000 years ago at the far ends of the Roman Empire, Britannia the warrior queen, watchful guardian and ever-changing face of Britain, has been depicted on the coins of British monarchs since 1672 with Charles II. Today, that longstanding tradition is celebrated in a fresh way through increased silver purity in the 2013 coin.
Front/Obverse
Each year, a different British artist—who must be approved by the Queen—is chosen to design their own take on the original standing portrait of Britannia by Philip Nathan. The coin’s 2013 artist, Robert Hunt, has emphasized the grace and classical tradition of Britannia as she dons a Roman robe with a Corinthian helmet and Neptune’s trident, staking her claim as “ruler of the waves.” An owl accompanies her to symbolize wisdom.
Rear/Reverse
The reverse side of the Silver Britannia features the image of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the reigning monarch of England, encircled by her name and the legal value of the silver (2 British pounds).
Brief History
The first Silver Britannia was minted in the U.K. in 1997 to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Gold Britannia coin. Since their introduction, each Britannia bullion coin has been made with a fineness of .958—until now. In 2013, the Royal Mint increased the purity to 99.9%.
Coin Facts
- Mint: Royal Mint of England
- Type: Bullion (Investment)
- Mintage: Minted annually since 1997
- Silver Content: 0.999 fine silver since 2013, 0.958 from 1997-2012
- Diameter: 38.61 mm in diameter (1.52 in.)
- Thickness: 3 mm in thickness (0.12 in.)
- Weight: 1 troy ounce (31.1g)
- Face Value: £2
- Coin Highlights:
- Features the Roman personification of the British Isles - the Roman goddess Britannia
- The official silver bullion coin for Great Britain
- The coin has been released annually to the public since 1997
- Originally, the purity of this coin was 0.958, but purity standards were subsequently increased to match other sovereign bullion coins
- The coin's quality and purity are guaranteed by the British Royal Mint.
Why Buy?
Silver and gold coins from The Royal Mint are undergoing a change in purity from their traditional 95.8% to 99.9% fineness level. This new standard in British silver bullion makes the Britannia coin a valuable addition to your portfolio or collection.
Since Britannia is actually a figure dating back to ancient Roman times, the historical value of this coin is obvious. And combined with the raised silver content, this silver bullion coin is one you shouldn’t pass up. To learn more about investing in silver, please visit our blog and Knowledge Center. If you are interested in ordering silver coins like the Britannia, look through our website today for prices and availability on mints dating back to 1998.
