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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 ounce (1 oz) gold coins are denominated as One Hundred Pounds (£100).
The coins are legal tender but are not intended for circulation. They are targeted at bullion investors or collectors who appreciate the special editions as pieces of art. The coins are typically "one-year" types usually issued in parallel with smaller denominations with the same reverse designs.
This quarter-ounce gold coin was issued by the Royal Mint as part of a nine-coin gold series dedicated to the upcoming XXX Olympiad, also known as the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The nine coins were divided in three themes - "Citius", "Altius" and "Fortius" after the Olympic motto, which translates from Latin as "faster, higher, stronger".
The Mars gold coin is part of the Fortius (stronger) theme and depicts the Roman god of war, who was also an agricultural guardian - a combination characteristic of early Rome. He was the son of Jupiter and he was the most prominent of the military gods in the religion of the Roman army. Most of his festivals were held in March, the month named for him (Latin Martius), and in October, which began the season for military campaigning and ended the season for farming. The coin also represents the sport of boxing. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coins shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).
Around the effigy is the monarch's legend: ELIZABETH ' II ' D ' G REG ' F ' D ' 2012 ' 100 ' POUNDS '. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith, followed by the value and denomination in English and the year.
The rim is plain and not "crenellated" (toothed) as on the Britannia one-ounce coins of the year. |
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| Reverse | |
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The coin depicts the Roman god of war Mars, wearing a Corinthian helmet pushed back to reveal his face. In front of him, two boxers engaged in a boxing match.
Above, the five interlocking rings of the Olympic games.
Around left, the inscription · MARS ·. Around right, · FORTIUS ·. Below, LONDON 2012.
The face value and date of issue are on the obverse. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
· MARS · · FORTIUS · LONDON 2012 |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | The coins were issued individually or in sets, in Proof FDC grade. Mintage is not clear. The Royal Mint lists 887 "London 2012 Olympic Games Sets" and separately 3,942 "London 2012 Olympic Games Gold Series" but it is not clear what these are. No separate coin mintage is listed for the 2012 coins in the series, unlike the ones in 2010 and 2011. |
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| Included in Set |
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Faster Higher Stronger Gold Proof 9 Coin Set (2012), mintage 887, limited to 1,000
9 coins: 1oz 2012 Mars, 1/4oz 2012 Minerva, 1/4oz 2012 Vulcan, 1oz 2011 Jupiter, 1/4oz 2011 Juno, 1/4oz 2011 Apollo, 1oz 2010 Neptune, 1/4oz 2010 Mercury, 1/4oz 2010 Diana
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Fortius Stronger Three-Coin Set, mintage unknown, limited to 4,000
3 coins: 1oz Mars, 1/4oz Vulcan, 1/oz Minerva
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