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 design is the fourth release in a Royal Mint series dedicated to the history of British monarchy and the monarchs of England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, and features King Edward VII.
The Royal Mint says about it: "As our British Monarchs Collection continues with the release of the fourth coin, we are exploring the life and coinage of Edward VII, the king who grew from "Young Bertie" to the "Uncle of Europe".
Edward VII reigned during a time when The Sovereign epitomised the United Kingdom’s influence across the world. Born to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on 9 November 1841, Prince Albert Edward inherited his father’s first name and membership of the European House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Affectionately called Bertie by his family, the royal couple’s first son was first in line to the throne and destined to reign."
The coins in the range feature on their reverse the bare head (uncrowned) effigy of King Edward VII by George William de Saulles, together with the monarch's legend (in Latin) - which formed the obverse of all coinage issued in the United Kingdom during his reign (1901 to 1910). |