Silver Kilo 2023 Britannia (King Charles III), Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

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: CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 500 POUNDS ·. Translated from Latin, the legend means: Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King, Defender of the Faith.

The obverse has a textured background ("guilloche" geometric pattern).

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.

Silver content (Troy oz): 32.15
Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated).
Packaging: in capsule.
Release date: 1 February 2023.
Royal Mint Product Code: UKB23S1KKC.

This is the first Britannia issue featuring the effigy of King Charles III. Owing to the unfortunate tendency of some mints - the Royal Mint included - to issue future-dated coins, earlier Britannia coins dated 2023 had the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II; these were on sale from 6 October 2022; on 1 February 2023, one-kilo coins carrying the King's portrait were introduced but those with the Queen's effigy also remained for sale.