| Coin | Silver Kilo 2023 Britannia, Bullion (Queen Elizabeth II) |
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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. Most of these by tradition are measured in troy ounces of fractions thereof, but the mint also introduced metric coins measuring one kilogram of pure metal (they are actually fractionally heavier as a whole, to account for the small amount of other metal in the alloy).
The 1 kg silver coins are denominated as Five Hundred Pounds (£500), although their intrinsic (bullion) value is much higher than their face value. The coins vary in design depending on the occasion (they are "one-year" types usually issued in parallel with smaller denominations with the same reverse designs).
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.
Britannia coins belong to an extensive range of British bullion coins issued by the Royal Mint in gold since 1987 and in silver since 1997. The range has a "definitive" Standing Britannia design issued every year as bullion (such as this coin), and a series of one-year types issued as collector proofs only.
The 2023 one kilogram of silver Britannia coin is the first bullion Britannia in this format. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (her effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait").
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials J.C (for Jody Clark).
Running continuously around the effigy is the monarch's legend: ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 500 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.
The obverse has a textured background ("guilloche" geometric pattern). |
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| Reverse | |
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At centre, the standing figure of Britannia - the female personification of Great Britain, facing left, with flowing robes, wearing a crested Corinthian helmet pushed back to reveal her face. She is holding a trident in her right hand; her left hand rests on a shield decorated with the cross of the Union Jack, and holds an olive branch. She is standing on a rock, with sea waves in the background.
Around, interrupted by the trident, the inscription ' BRITANNIA ' 2023 ' 1 KILO ' 999 ' FINE ' SILVER '.
The artist's surname NATHAN (Philip Nathan) is in relief in small letters on the rock under Britannia's feet.
There are four advanced security features built into the design:
- in the lower left, a latent image changes from a padlock to Britannia’s famous trident when viewed from a different angle
- "surface animation" brings the background of sparkling waves to life as the coin is moved
- micro text gives both decoration and protection - the words DECUS ET TUTAMEN (from Latin: "an ornament and a safeguard") are repeated multiple times in the inner rim between the central circle with the design and the outer rim with the inscriptions
- Britannia’s shield bears the Union Flag accented with tincture lines - thin lines (also known as "heraldic colours") representing the colours of the flag. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Silver content (Troy oz): 32.15
Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated).
Packaging: in capsule.
Issue date: 6 October 2022.
Royal Mint Product Code: UKB23S1KC.
This is the last Britannia issue featuring the fifth and final effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Owing to the unfortunate tendency of some mints - the Royal Mint included - to issue future-dated coins, this coin is not exactly an error coin (considering that it was released like this intentionally) but is not right either. It is dated 2023, but features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II who died in September 2022; the coin should have carried the portrait of King Charles III instead. |
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| See also |
Coins from the Britannia 2023 range (different designs for Bullion and Proof):
- 1 oz Gold Bullion (£100), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
- 1 oz Gold Bullion (£100), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/2 oz Gold Bullion (£50), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
- 1/2 oz Gold Bullion (£50), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/4 oz Gold Bullion (£25), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
- 1/4 oz Gold Bullion (£25), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/10 oz Gold Bullion (£10), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
- 1/10 oz Gold Bullion (£10), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1 kg Silver Bullion (£500), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
- 1 kg Silver Bullion (£500), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1 oz Silver Bullion (£2), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
- 1 oz Silver Bullion (£2), King Charles III, Britannia 2023
- 1/4 oz Silver Bullion (50p), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
- 1/10 oz Silver Bullion (20p), Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia 2023
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