| Coin | Silver Ounce 2023 Myths and Legends - King Arthur, Bullion |
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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. The one ounce (1 oz) silver coins are denominated as either two pounds (£2) or five pounds (£5), depending on the occasion.
Initially, these were only of the Britannia type, but in 2015 the Royal Mint started to use the format for coins with other types of reverse designs, celebrating various aspects of British heritage.
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.
This is the first design in the second part of the Myths and Legends range of bullion coins by the Royal Mint, and features legendary King Arthur.
The Mint says about the coin:
King Arthur is a mythical figure often depicted as a fearless warrior, noble king and the chivalrous leader of the Knights of the Round Table. A legend recast and retold throughout the ages, Arthur’s story first arose in the Welsh chronicles of the ninth and tenth centuries and the legend’s ambivalence continues to perpetuate its appeal.
The illustrator David Lawrence has skilfully crafted a design featuring the legendary king at its epicentre, garbed in regal apparel as he brandishes Excalibur, his legendary sword. Camelot, the fabled castle where the Knights of the Round Table held court, is discernible in the background. Struck in 999 fine silver, each coin is finished to The Royal Mint’s bullion standard. |
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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, followed by the date of issue and the face value: ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 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.
The obverse has a textured background ("guilloche" geometric pattern). |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse of the coin depicts the mythical King Arthur, raising his sword Excalibur with two hands; he is crowned, wears a cape and has a knife hanging from his belt. In the background, Camelot castle and a "micro-dot table texture".
Around above, interrupted by the sword, the inscription KING ARTHUR · 1 OZ FINE SILVER · 999 · 2023. Below right, the designer's signature D.L (for David Lawrence).
The face value and denomination are on the obverse. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
KING ARTHUR · 1 OZ FINE SILVER · 999 · 2023 |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated)
Packaging: individual plastic capsule.
Royal Mint Product Code MLKA231SO.
Date of issue: 20 October 2022.
Issue price £26.90
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.
A proof version was issued later with the correct obverse, featuring the first official effigy of King Charles III.
The Royal Mint differentiates bullion from proof coins not only by an inscription of the precious metal content on the bullion version - lacking on the proof, but also by having a textured background of the obverse of the bullion coins, while the proofs have a smooth background. |
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| See also |
Coins in the Myths and Legends series include (ordered by design / metal / size / year):
- 1 oz Platinum Bullion, Robin Hood (Queen Elizabeth II obverse), 2023
- 1 oz Gold Bullion, Robin Hood, 2021
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Robin Hood, 2024
- 10 oz Silver Bullion, Robin Hood (Queen Elizabeth II obverse), 2023
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Robin Hood, 2024
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Robin Hood, 2021
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Robin Hood, 2024
- £5 Copper-Nickel BU, Robin Hood, 2024
- 1 oz Gold Bullion, Robin Hood - Maid Marian, 2022
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Robin Hood - Maid Marian, 2024
- 10 oz Silver Bullion, Robin Hood - Maid Marian, 2023
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Robin Hood - Maid Marian, 2024
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Robin Hood - Maid Marian, 2022
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Robin Hood - Maid Marian, 2024
- £5 Copper-Nickel BU, Robin Hood - Maid Marian, 2024
- 1 oz Gold Bullion, Robin Hood - Little John, 2022
- 1 oz Gold Proof, Robin Hood - Little John, 2024
- 10 oz Silver Bullion, Robin Hood - Little John, 2024
- 2 oz Silver Proof, Robin Hood - Little John, 2024
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Robin Hood - Little John, 2022
- 1 oz Silver Proof, Robin Hood - Little John, 2024
- £5 Copper-Nickel BU, Robin Hood - Little John, 2024
- 1 oz Gold Bullion, King Arthur (Queen Elizabeth II obverse), 2023
- 1 oz Gold Proof, King Arthur (King Charles III obverse), 2023
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, King Arthur (King Charles III obverse), 2023
- 10 oz Silver Bullion, King Arthur, 2024
- 2 oz Silver Proof, King Arthur (King Charles III obverse), 2023
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, King Arthur (Queen Elizabeth II obverse), 2023
- 1 oz Silver Proof, King Arthur (King Charles III obverse), 2023
- £5 Copper-Nickel BU, King Arthur (King Charles III obverse), 2023
- 1 oz Gold Bullion, King Arthur - Merlin, 2023
- 1 oz Gold Proof, King Arthur - Merlin, 2023
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, King Arthur - Merlin, 2023
- 10 oz Silver Bullion, King Arthur - Merlin, 2025
- 2 oz Silver Proof, King Arthur - Merlin, 2023
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, King Arthur - Merlin, 2023
- 1 oz Silver Proof, King Arthur - Merlin, 2023
- £5 Copper-Nickel BU, King Arthur - Merlin, 2023
- 1 oz Gold Proof, King Arthur - Morgan le Fay, 2023
- 1 oz Gold Bullion, King Arthur - Morgan le Fay, 2024
- 1/4 oz Gold Proof, King Arthur - Morgan le Fay, 2023
- 2 oz Silver Proof, King Arthur - Morgan le Fay, 2023
- 1 oz Silver Proof, King Arthur - Morgan le Fay, 2023
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, King Arthur - Morgan le Fay, 2024
- £5 Copper-Nickel BU, King Arthur - Morgan le Fay, 2023
- 1 oz Gold Bullion, Beowulf - Beowulf and Grendel, 2024
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Beowulf - Beowulf and Grendel, 2024
- 1 oz Gold Bullion, Beowulf - Beowulf and Grendel's Mother, 2025
- 1 oz Silver Bullion, Beowulf - Beowulf and Grendel's Mother, 2025
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