Silver Ounce 2008 Britannia, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

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 ' 2 ' 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.

At centre, the standing figure of Britannia facing right, holding a trident in her right hand and with a shield at her left side, decorated with the cross of the Union Jack with "heraldic stripes" indicating its colours. She wears a crested Corinthian helmet, pushed back to reveal her face. The fold of her dress transform into a wave. There is a lighthouse to the right.

Around above left, the inscription BRITANNIA, and the date 2008 above right. Around below, · ONE OUNCE FINE SILVER ·.

The artist's initials JB (for John Bergdahl) are incuse in the rocks under the lighthouse.

Mintage of the bullion coins was limited to 100,000 but it is not known how many were actually issued.