| Coin | Gold Quarter Ounce 2006 Britannia - Seated |
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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 2005 coin featuring a seated Britannia, similar to the personification of Britannia originally used on coins of the Roman Emperor Claudius, and then on British halfpennies and farthings since 1672.
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 seated figure of Britannia - the female personification of Great Britain, facing left; her helmet is pushed back to reveal her face; the rim of her robe is decorated with a geometric pattern. Her right hand rests on a shield curved in the Celtic style, decorated with the cross of the Union Jack, with heraldic stripes denoting its colours. With her left hand she cradles a trident resting on her left shoulder. In the background, waves to the right and an oak tree to the left.
Within a toothed border, around left and right, interrupted by Britannia's helmet and trident, the inscription QUARTER OUNCE FINE GOLD 2006.
Below the exergue line, horizontally, BRITANNIA.
The artist's initials PN (for Philip Nathan) are in relief in small letters in the lower right field. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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