| Coin | Gold Ounce 2023 Britannia, Bullion (Queen Elizabeth II) |
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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.
Britannia coins belong to an extensive range of British bullion coins issued by the Royal Mint in gold since 1987 and in silver since 1997. The range has a "definitive" Standing Britannia design issued every year as bullion (such as this coin), and a series of one-year types issued as collector proofs only.
The Mint says about the coin:
Britannia has represented a nation and its people since Roman times and more than two thousand years later the icon is still instantly recognisable on a bullion coin. For 2023, Britannia continues to define security in the bullion market as she appears on a coin that has four groundbreaking features. Surface animation provides a background for Britannia, reflecting the flow of waves as the coin is moved, and between this and the banding of the coin you will find micro-text with the wording "Decus et Tutamen", which translates as ‘"An ornament and a safeguard" and describes the features that both decorate and protect the coin. A latent feature in the lower-hand segment of the coin switches between a trident and a padlock based on the viewer’s perspective - emphasising her maritime strength and the coin’s secure nature – and details such as the Union flag on Britannia’s shield have been specially highlighted with tincture lines. The advanced features have been combined to create a stunning Britannia design that is also the most visually secure bullion coin in the world.
These features are also available on the one kilo and one ounce fine silver, half ounce, quarter-ounce and tenth-ounce fine gold. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (her effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait").
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials J.C (for Jody Clark).
Running continuously around the effigy is the monarch's legend: ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 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.
The obverse has a textured background ("guilloche" geometric pattern) and a crenellated (toothed) border. |
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| Reverse | |
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At centre, the standing figure of Britannia - the female personification of Great Britain, facing left, with flowing robes, wearing a crested Corinthian helmet pushed back to reveal her face. She is holding a trident in her right hand; her left hand rests on a shield decorated with the cross of the Union Jack, and holds an olive branch. She is standing on a rock, with sea waves in the background.
Around, interrupted by the trident, the inscription ' BRITANNIA ' 2023 ' 1 oz ' 999.9 ' FINE ' GOLD '.
The artist's surname NATHAN (Philip Nathan) is in relief in small letters on the rock under Britannia's feet.
There are four advanced security features built into the design:
- in the lower left, a latent image changes from a padlock to Britannia’s famous trident when viewed from a different angle
- "surface animation" brings the background of sparkling waves to life as the coin is moved
- micro text gives both decoration and protection - the words DECUS ET TUTAMEN (from Latin: "an ornament and a safeguard") are repeated multiple times in the inner rim between the central circle with the design and the outer rim with the inscriptions
- Britannia’s shield bears the Union Flag accented with tincture lines - thin lines (also known as "heraldic colours") representing the colours of the flag. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Gold content (troy oz): 1.000
Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated).
Packaging: individual coin in capsule, or 10 coins in mint tube, or 100 (ten tubes) in mint box.
Royal Mint Product Code: UKBGB231C.
Issue date: 6 October 2022. On sale from the Royal Mint until 26 March 2023.
This is the last Britannia issue featuring the fifth and final effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Owing to the unfortunate tendency of some mints - the Royal Mint included - to issue future-dated coins, this coin is not exactly an error coin (considering that it was released like this intentionally) but is not right either. It is dated 2023, but features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II who died in September 2022; the coin should have carried the portrait of King Charles III instead. |
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| See also |
Coins from the Britannia 2023 range (different designs for Bullion and Proof):
- 1 oz Platinum Bullion (£100), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/4 oz Platinum Proof (£25), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/10 oz Platinum Bullion (£100), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 5 oz Gold Proof (£500), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 2 oz Gold Proof (£500), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1 oz Gold Bullion (£100), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
- 1 oz Gold Bullion (£100), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1 oz Gold Bullion (£100), King Charles III Coronation (crowned effigy), Britannia 2023
- 1 oz Gold Proof (£100), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/2 oz Gold Bullion (£50), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
- 1/2 oz Gold Bullion (£50), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/2 oz Gold Proof (£50), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/4 oz Gold Bullion (£25), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
- 1/4 oz Gold Bullion (£25), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof (£25), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/10 oz Gold Bullion (£10), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
- 1/10 oz Gold Bullion (£10), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/10 oz Gold Proof (£10), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/20 oz Gold Proof (£1), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/40 oz Gold Proof (50p), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1 kg Silver Bullion (£500), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
- 1 kg Silver Bullion (£500), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 5 oz Silver Proof (£5), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 2 oz Silver Proof (£5), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1 oz Silver Bullion (£2), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
- 1 oz Silver Bullion (£2), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1 oz Silver Bullion (£2), King Charles III Coronation (crowned effigy), Britannia 2023
- 1 oz Silver Proof (£2), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/2 oz Silver Proof (£1), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/4 oz Silver Bullion (50p), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
- 1/4 oz Silver Bullion (50p), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/4 oz Silver Proof (50p), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/10 oz Silver Bullion (20p), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
- 1/10 oz Silver Proof (20p), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/20 oz Silver Proof (10p), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/40 oz Silver Proof (5p), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
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