| Coin | Gold Fortieth-Ounce 2025 Britannia |
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Like many other mints, the Royal Mint issues bullion coins in precious metals, having much higher intrinsic value than their face value. The one-fortieth ounce (1/40 oz) gold coins are denominated as Fifty Pence (50p) and have been issued since 2014.
These tiny coins are legal tender but are not intended for circulation. They are targeted at collectors who appreciate the special editions as pieces of art. The coins are typically "one-year" types usually issued in parallel with other denominations with the same reverse designs.
Britannia as a symbol - the female personification of Great Britain - has been depicted on British coinage for centuries. The bullion series called Britannia has been issued in gold since 1987 and in silver since 1997; it has a "definitive" depiction - used on bullion coins (Brilliant Uncirculated grade), as well as “Britannia, the Changing Face of Britain” - a series of one-year designs used on proofs made for collectors, such as this one.
The mint says about it:
Britannia, a legendary figure and an iconic emblem in the numismatic world, has featured on British coins since the reign of King Charles II. The symbol of Britannia came to feature on British coins as a figure of strength and resilience. First minted on coins of Hadrian’s Rome, the figure represented Roman Britain’s defensive policy. Despite the eventual wane of the Roman Empire, Britannia endured, and still embodies those same virtues of strength, resilience and fortitude today. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin displays the first definitive portrait of King Charles III, which shows his bare (uncrowned) head facing left.
Below the neck truncation in tiny letters, the artist's initials MJ (for Martin Jennings).
Around, the monarch's legend followed by the face value and date of issue: CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 50 PENCE · 2025 ·. Translated from Latin, the legend means: Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King, Defender of the Faith.
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| Reverse | |
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Within a plain rim, the reverse design depicts Britannia, the female personification of Great Britain, standing, facing the viewer. She has a crested helmet with its visor lifted to reveal her face, and a billowing cloak. In her right hand, she holds a trident as a symbol of Britain's maritime power. In her left hand, an oval shield carrying the colours of the flag of Great Britain; the colours are represented by "heraldic hatching" - thin lines indicating the colour, with horizontal stripes for blue, vertical for red, no stripes for white.
In the background, sea waves and the rays of the rising sun. The artist's initials BMJ, for Bradley Morgan Johnson, are below left.
Around above, the inscription BRITANNIA. Around below left, the precious metal content: 1/40 OZ 999.9 FINE GOLD (one fortieth of a troy ounce of 99.99% gold). Centrally below, the date of issue 2025.
The face value is on the obverse. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: Proof FDC.
Release date: 8 March 2025.
The coins were only issued in sets and not individually. |
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