| Coin | Silver Quarter Ounce 2010 Britannia |
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Britannia coins are British bullion coins issued by the Royal Mint in gold since 1987 and in silver since 1997. The original Britannia silver coins contain one troy ounce (1 oz) of silver and have a face value of £2.
Silver Britannias are also issued in fractional sizes of one-half, one-quarter, one-tenth, 1/20th and 1/40th of a troy ounce and with face values of £1, 50p, 20p, 10p and 5p respectively (that is, the quarter ounce silver piece is officially denominated as 50 pence). There is also a five-ounce coin of face value £10.
In 2010, the Royal Mint released a new reverse design for the Britannia coin range by artist Suzie Zamit, featuring the profile bust of Britannia, reminiscent of the head of Marianne as Ceres on the early twentieth-century French 20 Franc gold coins.
The quarter-ounce (1/4oz) silver coin was issued in Proof FDC grade only, in mint sets and not individually. |
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| Obverse | |
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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 ' 50 ' PENCE '. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith, followed by the value and denomination in English.
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| Reverse | |
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At centre, profile bust of Britannia, the female personification of Great Britain, with flowing hair, facing right. She is wearing a Corinthian helmet decorated with a lion head motif, pushed back to reveal her face. Her tunic is fastened on her right shoulder by a ring brooch.
Around left, the inscription BRITANNIA. Around right, 1/4 OUNCE FINE SILVER.
The date 2010 is below, flanked by two small laurel branches. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | The sets are listed in Spink but not on the Royal Mint website; the Royal Mint only lists the total mintage, including the coins in the sets. |
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