| Coin | Gold Quarter Ounce 2006 Britannia - Guardian |
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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 quarter ounce (1/4 oz) gold coins are denominated as Twenty-five Pounds (£25).
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 other denominations with the same reverse designs.
In 2006, the Royal Mint re-issued the design of the 2001 coin known as The Guardian, or Una and the Lion, where Britannia is advancing to left with her shield raised, accompanied by a lion.
The composition of the coin is 91.77% gold alloyed with 8.23% silver.
This quarter-ounce (1/4oz) coin was issued in the five-coin Britannia Portrait Collection mint set only, in Proof FDC grade. |
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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 ' FID ' DEF ' 25 ' 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.
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| Reverse | |
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At centre, the standing figure of Britannia - the female personification of Great Britain, barefoot, advancing to left; her helmet is pushed back to reveal her face. She is holding a trident in her right hand which is vertical behind her; her left hand raises a shield decorated with the cross of the Union Jack - with "heraldic" stripes indicating its blue and red colours. Behind her, a lion advances to left together with her. The background has several lines in a wave motif.
Vertically in four lines to the left of the figure, the inscription QUARTER OUNCE FINE GOLD. To her right, also vertical, in two lines separated by the trident, BRITANNIA 2006.
The artist's surname NATHAN (Philip Nathan) is in relief in small letters in the lower left field. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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