| Coin | Gold Quarter Ounce 2011 Juno |
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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.
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 Juno gold coin is part of the Altius (higher) theme and depicts the Roman goddess Juno - the wife of Jupiter and the mother of Mars, Vulcan, Bellona and Juventas. She is the Roman equivalent of Hera, queen of the gods in Greek mythology. The coin also represents the sport of pole vaulting. |
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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 ' 2011 ' 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 and the year.
The rim is plain and not "crenellated" (toothed) as on the Britannia quarter-ounce coins of the year. |
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| Reverse | |
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The coin depicts the Roman goddess Juno and an athlete performing a pole vault.
Above, the five interlocking rings of the Olympic games.
Around left, the inscription · JUNO ·. Around right, · ALTIUS ·. Below, LONDON 2012.
The face value and date of issue are on the obverse. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
· JUNO · · ALTIUS · 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. According to Spink, mintage of the coins which were issued as parts of the various sets is included in the total mintage listed by the Royal Mint. |
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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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Altius Higher Three-Coin Set, mintage unknown, limited to 4,000
3 coins: 1oz Jupiter, 1/4oz Apollo, 1/oz Juno
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Altius Higher Two-Coin Set, mintage unknown
2 coins: 1/4oz Apollo, 1/oz Juno
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