| Coin | Silver Tenth-Ounce 2005 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 tenth-ounce silver piece is officially denominated as 20 pence). There is also a five-ounce coin of face value £10.
The coins of the Britannia range in 2005 bear a new reverse design, the fifth image of Britannia by Philip Nathan. On it, Britannia is shown seated, similar to the personification of Britannia originally used on coins of the Roman Emperor Claudius, and then on British halfpennies and farthings since 1672.
According to the official announcement:
"To continue the Britannia series, the Royal Mint again looked to award winning sculptor Philip Nathan. His new Britannia, the fifth since the bullion coins were introduced in 1987, shows Britannia in more traditional pose. Ever watchful, she sits at the seashore, her helmet and robes harking back to her Roman roots and her trident and shield recalling her great maritime history."
The tenth-ounce (1/10oz) silver coin was only issued in Proof FDC grade, in mint sets and as individual coins. |
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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 ' 20 ' 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, the seated figure of Britannia - the female personification of Great Britain, facing left; her helmet is pushed back to reveal her face; the rim of her robe is decorated with a geometric pattern. Her right hand rests on a shield curved in the Celtic style, decorated with the cross of the Union Jack, with heraldic stripes denoting its colours. With her left hand she cradles a trident resting on her left shoulder. In the background, waves to the right and an oak tree to the left.
Within a toothed border, around left and right, interrupted by Britannia's helmet and trident, the inscription TENTH OUNCE FINE SILVER 2005.
Below the exergue line, horizontally, BRITANNIA.
The artist's initials PN (for Philip Nathan) are in relief in small letters in the lower right field. |
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| Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | 913 individual coins, plus 2,360 coins in sets. |
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