Coin | Silver Two Ounces 2022 British Monarchs - King James I |
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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 two ounce (2 oz) silver coins are denominated as Five Pounds (£5).
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. The coins are typically "one-year" types usually issued in parallel with smaller denominations with the same reverse designs.
This design is the second release in a Royal Mint series dedicated to the history of British monarchy and the monarchs of England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, and features James I of England, who was King James VI in Scotland. The reverse is based on a coin issued during his reign.
The Royal Mint says about it: The British Monarchs Collection continues with a new addition to this innovative series dedicated to some of Britain’s greatest kings and queens. Building on the precedent set by the first coin in the series, the second release features another legendary royal with a design dedicated to James I - the Scottish king James VI who succeeded Queen Elizabeth I to become king of England.
As a worthy successor in the series, the seventeenth-century monarch appears on this new coin in the same classic design that would have featured on the coins of the Jacobean era. Whilst the design first appeared on British coinage more than 400 years ago, this coinage portrait has been faithfully recreated as close to the original as possible using state-of-the-art technology. |
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Obverse | |
The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (her effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait").
In small letters below the head, the artist's initials J.C (for Jody Clark).
Running continuously around the effigy is the monarch's legend, followed by the date of issue and the face value: ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 5 POUNDS · 2022 ·. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith, followed by the value and denomination in English and the year.
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Reverse | |
Within a beaded border with uneven rim, imitating a hammered coin, the reverse of the coin depicts the crowned bust of King James I of England, who was King James VI in Scotland, facing right. The king holds a sceptre ending with a fleur-de-lys in his right hand, and an orb with a cross in his left hand. The portrait is adapted from that on his Gold Unite coin of 1604.
Around, the inscription · IACOBVS · D: G: MAG: BRITT: FRAN: ET · HIB: REX ·, preceded by a Tudor rose (on coins of the king's period, that would have been the mint mark).
The legend is in Latin, and means "James, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland". The mention of France is a reference to the king's historical claim on the French throne, although he never ruled France. |
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Reverse Inscription |
· IACOBVS · D: G: MAG: BRITT: FRAN: ET · HIB: REX · |
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Edge | Milled | Edge Inscription | None |
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Notes | Finish: Proof FDC. Packaging: boxed, with numbered Certificate of Authenticity. Limited Edition 700. Maximum Coin Mintage: 706. Royal Mint Product Code: UK22J1S2O Release date: 29 March 2022. Release price: £185.00 |
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See also |
Coins in the British Monarchs Collection featuring King James I: - 5 oz Gold Proof, King James I, 2022 - 2 oz Gold Proof, King James I, 2022 - 1 oz Gold Proof, King James I, 2022 - 10 oz Silver Proof, King James I, 2022 - 5 oz Silver Proof, King James I, 2022 - 2 oz Silver Proof, King James I, 2022 - 1 oz Silver Proof, King James I, 2022
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