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 is the first design in the second part of the Myths and Legends range of coins by the Royal Mint, and the first in the range to be issued in a non-bullion format; it features legendary King Arthur.
The mint says about it: The first commemorative coin in our Myths and Legends Collection honours King Arthur, the fabled leader of the Knights of the Round Table.
King Arthur is a mythical figure often depicted as a fearless warrior, noble king and the chivalrous leader of the Knights of the Round Table. A legend recast and retold throughout the ages, Arthur’s story first arose in the Welsh chronicles of the ninth and tenth centuries and the legend’s ambivalence continues to perpetuate its appeal.
The illustrator David Lawrence has skilfully crafted a design featuring the legendary king at its epicentre, garbed in regal apparel as he brandishes Excalibur, his legendary sword. Camelot, the fabled castle where the Knights of the Round Table held court, is discernible in the background. |