| Coin | Silver Half Ounce 2025 Britannia, Proof |
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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.
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:
Britannia, a legendary figure and an iconic emblem in the numismatic world, has featured on British coins since the reign of King Charles II. The symbol of Britannia came to feature on British coins as a figure of strength and resilience. First minted on coins of Hadrian’s Rome, the figure represented Roman Britain’s defensive policy. Despite the eventual wane of the Roman Empire, Britannia endured, and still embodies those same virtues of strength, resilience and fortitude today. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin displays the first definitive portrait of King Charles III, which shows his bare (uncrowned) head facing left.
Below the neck truncation in tiny letters, the artist's initials MJ (for Martin Jennings).
Around, the monarch's legend followed by the face value and date of issue: CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 1 POUND · 2025 ·. Translated from Latin, the legend means: Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King, Defender of the Faith.
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| Reverse | |
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Within a plain rim, the reverse design depicts Britannia, the female personification of Great Britain, standing, facing the viewer. She has a crested helmet with its visor lifted to reveal her face, and a billowing cloak. In her right hand, she holds a trident as a symbol of Britain's maritime power. In her left hand, an oval shield carrying the colours of the flag of Great Britain; the colours are represented by "heraldic hatching" - thin lines indicating the colour, with horizontal stripes for blue, vertical for red, no stripes for white.
In the background, sea waves and the rays of the rising sun. The artist's initials BMJ, for Bradley Morgan Johnson, are below left.
Around above, the inscription BRITANNIA. Around below left, the precious metal content: 1/2 OZ 999 FINE SILVER (one half of a troy ounce of 99.9% silver). Centrally below, the date of issue 2025.
The face value is on the obverse. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: Proof FDC.
Packaging: in a numbered blister card (7,000 coins), or in sets.
Maximum Coin Mintage: 7,760.
Royal Mint Product Code (in card): BR25HS.
Release date: 8 March 2025.
Release price: £65.00.
This is the first time the Royal Mint releases a proof half-ounce Britannia individually, and not only as part of a set. |
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