Coin | Silver Ounce 2023 Star Wars - Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine |
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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 silver ounce denominated as £2 is the second of four releases in a Royal Mint series celebrating one of the most popular movie franchises of all time - Star Wars, and specifically - the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, the third installment of the saga. This design features the characters Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine.
The mint says: "It has been almost half a century since the world got its first glimpse of the Star Wars universe with the release of Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977. Now, for the first time, the iconic characters of the original Star Wars trilogy will feature on official UK coins as part of a brand-new, four-coin collection dedicated to some of the most legendary partnerships from the series." |
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Obverse | |
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 | |
The reverse of the coin depicts Darth Vader in the foreground, wearing his iconic black suit, cloak and helmet and holding a lightsabre. In the background, Emperor Palpatine in his robes, leaning on a crooked cane. Behind them, the window that sits behind Emperor Palpatine’s throne during the iconic final battle in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
Above, a "lenticular feature" - a small circle with a latent image, revealing the Death Star or the insignia of the Galactic Empire, (also known as the Imperial Crest) when viewed at an angle.
Below, the STAR WARS logo.
Around below left, in small letters the copyright notice, © & ™ Lucasfilm Ltd.
The date of issue and the face value are on the obverse. |
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Reverse Inscription |
STAR WARS |
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Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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Notes | Finish: Proof FDC, latent image. Packaging: boxed, with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. Limited Edition 3,000. Maximum Coin Mintage: 3,010. Royal Mint Product Code: UK23DVSP. Release date: 18 September 2023. Release price: £102.50. |
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See also |
Coins issued in 2023 and featuring Star Wars themes include (ordered by metal / size / country): - 1 oz Gold Proof, Return of the Jedi - 40th Anniversary, Niue - 1 oz Gold Proof, C-3PO and R2-D2, United Kingdom - 1 oz Gold Proof, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, United Kingdom - 1 oz Gold Proof, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, United Kingdom - 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Return of the Jedi - 40th Anniversary, Niue - 1/4 oz Gold Proof, C-3PO and R2-D2, United Kingdom - 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, United Kingdom - 1/4 oz Gold Proof, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, United Kingdom - 10 oz Silver Bullion, Mandalorian - Beskar Bar, Niue - 5 oz Silver Coloured Rectangle (poster), A New Hope, Niue - 5 oz Silver Coloured Rectangle (poster), The Empire Strikes Back, Niue - 5 oz Silver Coloured Rectangle (poster), Return of the Jedi, Niue - 5 oz Silver (shaped), The Mandalorian - Mythosaur, Niue - 5 oz Silver Proof, C-3PO and R2-D2, United Kingdom - 5 oz Silver Proof, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, United Kingdom - 5 oz Silver Proof, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, United Kingdom - 3 oz Silver Coloured Proof, Darth Vader - 40th Anniversary, Niue - 3 oz Silver Coloured Proof, Darth Vader - Black, Niue - 3 oz Silver Coloured Proof, Darth Vader, Niue - 3 oz Silver Coloured Proof, Luke Skywalker, Niue - 3 oz Silver Coloured Proof, Princess Leia, Niue - 3 oz Silver Coloured Proof, Han Solo, Niue - 3 oz Silver (shaped), Death Star II, Niue - 3 oz Silver (shaped), The Mandalorian - N-1 Starfighter, Niue - 3 oz Silver (shaped), The Mandalorian - Bo-Katan's Gauntlet Starfighter, Niue - 3 oz Silver (shaped), Snowspeeder, Niue - 2 oz Silver (shaped), Millennium Falcon, Niue - 2 oz Silver (shaped), The Mandalorian - Mythosaur, Niue - 2 oz Silver Chibi, Jabba the Hutt, Niue - 2 oz Silver Proof, C-3PO and R2-D2, United Kingdom - 2 oz Silver Proof, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, United Kingdom - 2 oz Silver Proof, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, United Kingdom - 1 oz Silver Bullion, Jedi Order Crest, Niue - 1 oz Silver Bullion, Grogu (Baby Yoda), Niue - 1 oz Silver Bullion, Mandalorian - Beskar Bar, Niue - 1 oz Silver Coloured Proof, Season's Greetings (Grogu), Niue - 1 oz Silver Rectangle (Coloured Poster), Return of the Jedi - 40th Anniversary, Niue - 1 oz Silver (shaped), The Mandalorian - Grogu in Pod, Niue - 1 oz Silver (shaped), The Mandalorian - N-1 Starfighter, Niue - 1 oz Silver (shaped), The Mandalorian - Bo-Katan's Gauntlet Starfighter, Niue - 1 oz Silver (shaped), Snowspeeder, Niue - 1 oz Silver (shaped), Clone Wars - 104th Battalion Helmet, Niue - 1 oz Silver (shaped), The Mandalorian Helmets - Din Djarin, Niue - 1 oz Silver (shaped), The Mandalorian Helmets - The Armorer, Niue - 1 oz Silver (shaped), The Mandalorian Helmets - Bo-Katan Kryze, Niue - 1 oz Silver Chibi, Darth Vader, Niue - 1 oz Silver Chibi, Luke Skywalker, Niue - 1 oz Silver Chibi, Anakin Skywalker, Niue - 1 oz Silver Chibi, Mace Windu, Niue - 1 oz Silver Chibi, Lando Calrissian, Niue - 1 oz Silver Chibi, Count Dooku, Niue - 1 oz Silver Chibi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Niue - 1 oz Silver Chibi, Mandalorian - Bo-Katan Kryze, Niue - 1 oz Silver Chibi, Mandalorian - Moff Gideon, Niue - 1 oz Silver Chibi, Mandalorian - Ahsoka Tano, Niue - 1 oz Silver Proof, C-3PO and R2-D2, United Kingdom - 1 oz Silver Proof, Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, United Kingdom - 1 oz Silver Proof, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, United Kingdom - 50 Pence Copper-Nickel (with gold and silver versions), C-3PO and R2-D2, United Kingdom - 50 Pence Copper-Nickel (with gold and silver versions), Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, UK - 50 Pence Copper-Nickel (with gold and silver versions), Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, UK
One ounce silver coins and bullion issued by the Royal Mint with a Star Wars theme include: - 1 oz Silver Proof, Character Duos - C-3PO and R2-D2, 2023 - 1 oz Silver Proof, Character Duos - Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, 2023 - 1 oz Silver Proof, Character Duos - Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, 2023 - 1 oz Silver Proof, Character Duos - Han Solo and Chewbacca, 2024 - 1 oz Silver Proof, Iconic Vehicles - Millennium Falcon, 2024 - 1 oz Silver Proof, Iconic Vehicles - TIE Fighter, 2024 - 1 oz Silver Proof, Iconic Vehicles - X-Wing Fighter, 2024 - 1 oz Silver Bullion Bar, Star Wars - The Light Side (not legal tender), 2024
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