| Coin | Silver Half Ounce 2009 Britannia |
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Britannia coins are British bullion coins issued by the Royal Mint in gold since 1987 and in silver since 1997. The original Britannia silver coins contain one troy ounce (1 oz) of silver and have a face value of £2.
Silver Britannias are also issued in fractional sizes of one-half, one-quarter, one-tenth, 1/20th and 1/40th of a troy ounce and with face values of £1, 50p, 20p, 10p and 5p respectively. There is also a five-ounce coin of face value £10.
In 2009, the Royal Mint re-issued the anniversary Britannia design initially used in 1997 to mark the tenth year of the Britannia bullion coins range, which was also the first issue of silver Britannias (they were only gold before). The design is known as The Charioteer and depicts Britannia standing whilst driving a two-horse chariot in the manner of the warrior queen Boudicca (Boadicea).
The half-ounce (1/2oz) silver coin was issued in Proof FDC grade only, in mint sets and not individually. |
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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 ' 1 ' POUND '. 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 riding in a chariot drawn by two horses, holding the reins in her right hand and a trident in her left. She is wearing a Corinthian helmet, pushed back.
Around above, the inscription HALF ' OUNCE ' FINE ' SILVER ', and the date 2009. Around below, BRITANNIA.
The artist's initials PN (for Philip Nathan) are in the left field, above and behind the chariot wheel. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | The sets are listed in Spink but not on the Royal Mint website; the Royal Mint only lists the total mintage, including the coins in the sets. |
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