Gold Two Ounces 2023 Britannia Memorial, Coin from Saint Helena - detailed information

Saint Helena is a small island in the South Atlantic Ocean which is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The currency of the island is the Saint Helena pound, fixed at parity with the pound sterling. The island has authorised some private mints to issue coins under its jurisdiction, which come in a variety of sizes - including in the large two ounces of gold (2 oz gold) format, denominated as £5.

This coin is part of a Britannia memorial range dedicated to the memory of Queen Elizabeth II.

The mint says about it:
Now, as Britain remembers its longest reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II on the first anniversary of her death, Britannia is once again in mourning in tribute to Her late Majesty’s lifetime of dutiful service and commitment to modernising the ancient British monarchy. Much like Britannia, Her Majesty will forever be remembered as a female icon, steadfast and true, an enduring national symbol of pride, grace and beauty.

The reign of Queen Elizabeth II was one of rapid modernisation, as the post-war years gave way to the vibrant fashion, music, film and creativity that has dominated the cultural landscape since the 1960s. Britannia also adapted to reflect the ever-changing world of the nation’s longest reigning monarch, moving in step with the evolving nature of Britain and her people, the epitome of ‘Cool Britannia’.

Britannia also holds a long association with British coinage, first appearing on farthings issued in 1672. She was a constant presence on the nation’s coins until 2008, when a new set of definitive designs were revealed that did not feature this great female symbol of British identity.

The coin’s design is inspired by an illustration from an issue of The Sphere magazine released in 1910 upon the death of Her late Majesty’s great-grandfather, King Edward VII.