| Coin | Silver Ounce 2023 Myths and Legends - King Arthur, Proof |
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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 coins by the Royal Mint, and the first in the range to be issued in a non-bullion format; it features legendary King Arthur.
The mint says about it:
The first commemorative coin in our Myths and Legends Collection honours King Arthur, the fabled leader of the Knights of the Round Table.
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. |
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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 · 2 POUNDS · 2023 ·. 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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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 MYTHS AND LEGENDS · 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 MYTHS AND LEGENDS · 2023 |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Finish: Proof FDC.
Packaging: in black display box, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Edition limit (boxed): 2,500. Maximum Coin Mintage: 2,510.
Royal Mint Product Code: UK23KASP.
Date of issue: 20 February 2023.
Issue price: Price: £99.50.
There is also a bullion version of the design issued in 2002, but dated 2023. Owing to the unfortunate tendency of some mints - the Royal Mint included - to issue future-dated coins, this earlier coin features on the obverse the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II who died in September 2022. The proof version has 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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