Silver Britannia Coins
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Silver Britannia Coins
Notable Britannia Releases
There are some notable Britannia issues that forever altered the striking of this annual coin. In 2013, the Royal Mint changed the silver Britannia from being 95.8 percent silver to being 99.9 percent pure silver. This issue marked not only an improvement in the silver purity of the annual release, but also marked a derivation in design. Rather than use the portrait of Britannia that had been a staple of the series since 1997, the Royal Mint changed the design to the iconic imagery of Britannia wielding a trident in her right hand and holding her shield in the left. The design has remained the same for the Uncirculated coins ever since. However, in 2017, uncirculated silver Britannias saw the addition of a radial design in the fields on the reverse side of the coin behind Britannia herself. The 2018 silver Britannia took that radial design and added it to the fields of the obverse behind Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
Proof Silver Britannias
The design of proof silver Britannias changes every year. The 2017 silver Britannia proof celebrated the 30th anniversary of the release of the original gold Britannia in 1987 and the 20th anniversary of the release of the original silver Britannia in 1997. It has a design that shows Britannia herself in the form of the British Isles. The 2018 silver Britannia Proof took an interesting turn and revisited the original silver Britannia design with the bust of Britannia fit with a Roman helm. The 2019 silver Britannia proof shows Britannia pointing her spear forward across a brilliant sky with her shield behind her and a mighty lion. Silver Britannia proofs keep changing their designs every year. Entire collections could be based simply around the silver Britannia proof and all its iterations.
Collecting Silver Britannias
The Royal Mint’s silver Britannia is a coin with origins going back several thousand years, featuring the personification of the British Isles that were assigned to them by the Roman Emperor Hadrin. It also holds a great place within numismatic history as one of the most popular global silver coin releases. Whether the different designs of the Proofs catch your eye or if owning all the different sizes issued in a single year is more your style, the silver Britannia series is a numismatic icon with something for everyone to collect.
Buying Silver Britannia Coins: What Collectors Should Know
Britannia has been a figurehead in British coinage dating back to the Roman Empire during Emperor Hadrian's rule. Originally symbolizing the British Isles, Britannia's symbology and iconography shifted during Elizabeth I's reign as a testament to Britain's emerging supremacy over the seas, thanks to mathematician and astrologer John Dee. In the 17th century, Britannia continued to be emblematic of Britain's command over the seas with a new depiction by John Roettiers in 1672.
Britannia remained a strong presence on British coins throughout the centuries, but as Great Britain approached decimalization in 1968, it was determined that Britannia would not appear on new coins. The public outcry and demand were so great that the House of Commons overturned the decision, leading to the 50p coin in 1969. Modern Britannia coins were revived in 1987 with the Gold Britannia bullion coins. Silver Britannia bullion coins came ten years later, in 1997. Since those first Britannia bullion coins were released, collectors have anticipated each annual release.
In 2021, The Royal Mint introduced state-of-the-art security features to the Britannia series, cementing its status as one of the world's most visually secure coins. This evolution reflects not only The Royal Mint's dedication to marrying technological advancement with artistic achievement but also Britannia's enduring symbolism of resilience, sovereignty, and nautical prowess. Britannia has remained a steadfast emblem of the nation's history and culture through centuries of British coinage.
Design of Britannia Silver Coins
Since they were first minted in 1997, Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) Silver Britannias have always featured an iconic design featuring Britannia in some shape or form. Early in the series, both Proof and Bullion issues saw various reverse designs over the years, but this changed in 2012.
Starting in 2012, the award-winning Standing Britannia design by Phillip Nathan, which depicts Britannia wearing a Corinthian helmet and a shield, has appeared on Bullion issues. However, Proof Silver Britannias still see a new reverse design with each annual release. The Proof reverse design always features the iconic Britannia, often portrayed as the graceful yet powerful figure she is. Various artists have had the privilege of putting their spin on Proof Silver Britannias since 1997.
Other reverse designs are also released in addition to the Proof Britannia designs, such as commemorative Britannias or exclusive releases. For example, in 2022, The Royal Mint hired Italian artist and sculptor Sandra Deiana to craft a Britannia coin that would celebrate the 350 years that Britannia has been used on British coins. Her design featured three different versions of Britannia, covering three different eras of the iconic figure.
When Britannia bullion coins were first released in 1987 in the form of Gold Britannias, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II graced the obverse design with her effigy. This tradition continued in 1997 with the release of Silver Britannias; however, starting in 2023, Silver Britannia coins received a new obverse design featuring the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III.
Is Britannia Silver Good?
Starting in 1997, the first Silver Britannia coins were struck with 95.8% silver, but in 2013, The Royal Mint began striking Silver Britannias with 99.9% pure silver, making it one of the purest silver bullion coins in the world.
Notable Britannia Releases
Some notable Britannia issues forever altered the striking of this annual coin. As noted above, in 2013, The Royal Mint changed the Silver Britannia from 95.8 percent silver to 99.9 percent pure silver. This issue marked an improvement in the silver purity of Silver Britannias and a derivation in design. In 2017, Uncirculated Silver Britannias saw the addition of a radial design in the fields on the reverse side of the coin behind Britannia herself. The 2018 Silver Britannia took that radial design and added it to the fields of the obverse behind Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
2023 Britannias were notable, too, as coins bearing the final effigy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II were issued in addition to Britannia coins bearing the first effigy of the current reigning monarch, King Charles III.
Proof Silver Britannia Coins
The design of Proof Silver Britannias changes every year. The 2017 Silver Britannia proof celebrated the 30th anniversary of the release of the original Gold Britannia in 1987 and the 20th anniversary of the release of the original Silver Britannia in 1997. It has a design that shows Britannia herself in the form of the British Isles. The 2018 Silver Britannia Proof took an interesting turn and revisited the original silver Britannia design with the bust of Britannia fit with a Roman helm. The 2019 Silver Britannia Proof shows Britannia pointing her spear forward across a brilliant sky with her shield behind her and a mighty lion. Silver Britannia Proofs keep changing their designs every year. Entire collections could be based simply around the Silver Britannia Proof and all its iterations.
Collecting Silver Britannias
The Royal Mint’s Silver Britannia is a coin with origins going back several thousand years, featuring the personification of the British Isles that were assigned to them by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. It also holds a great place within numismatic history as one of the most popular global silver coin releases. Whether the different designs of the Proofs catch your eye or owning all the different sizes issued in a single year is more your style, the Silver Britannia series is a numismatic icon with something for everyone to collect.
Buy Silver Britannia Coins at GOVMINT
Make GovMint your coin dealer of choice when shopping for Britannia Silver Coins. Not only do we provide an extensive inventory of British Silver Coins, backed by our A+ BBB rating, but we offer a unique partnership with The Royal Mint, which includes official distribution of The Lion and The Eagle coin series. When buying Silver Britannias at GovMint, you can rest assured that your purchase is authentic and supported by our elite customer service.
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