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 commemorative silver coin is the first issue in the Iconic Specimens collection, part of Tales of the Earth series of coins, and features the iconic Tyrannosaurus.
The design was developed in collaboration with the Natural History Museum, and features original artwork created specifically for this collection by renowned palaeo-artist Robert Nicholls, based on scientifically accurate reconstructions.
This is the first silver one-ounce coin in the range. |