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.
Britannia as a symbol - the female personification of Great Britain - has been depicted on British coinage for centuries. The bullion series called Britannia has been issued in gold since 1987 and in silver since 1997; it has a "definitive" depiction - used on bullion coins (Brilliant Uncirculated grade), as well as “Britannia, the Changing Face of Britain” - a series of one-year designs used on proofs made for collectors, such as this one.
The mint says about it: An unwavering symbol of strength and resilience graces a UK coin as we pay tribute to Britannia, the female personification of Britain, with a modern interpretation of the icon. Nearly 2,000 years ago, a figure was shaped to symbolise a nation and its people. Each year, a new artist reimagines Britannia for UK coins, bringing a fresh take on the changing face of Britain.
French artist Marie-Alice Harel, an award-winning author and illustrator, has created a modern interpretation of Britannia for this 2024-dated coin. |