Britannia

coins A coin is a small, flat (usually depending on the country or value), round piece of metal or plastic used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender. They are standardized in weight, and produced in large quantities at a mint in order t ...

are

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

bullion coin Bullion is non-ferrous metal that has been refined to a high standard of elemental purity. The term is ordinarily applied to bulk metal used in the production of coins and especially to precious metals such as gold and silver. It comes fro ...

s issued by the Royal Mint in

gold Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile me ...

since 1987, in

silver Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical ...

since 1997, and in

platinum Platinum is a chemical element with the symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a dense, malleable, ductile, highly unreactive, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name originates from Spanish , a diminutive of "silver". Pla ...

since 2018. The coin patterns feature various depictions of

Britannia Britannia () is the national personification of Britain as a helmeted female warrior holding a trident and shield. An image first used in classical antiquity, the Latin ''Britannia'' was the name variously applied to the British Isles, Great ...

, a feminine personification of the United Kingdom. Britannia

gold coin A gold coin is a coin that is made mostly or entirely of gold. Most gold coins minted since 1800 are 90–92% gold (22karat), while most of today's gold bullion coins are pure gold, such as the Britannia, Canadian Maple Leaf, and American Buf ...

s contain one

troy ounce Troy weight is a system of units of mass that originated in 15th-century England, and is primarily used in the precious metals industry. The troy weight units are the grain, the pennyweight (24 grains), the troy ounce (20 pennyweights), and th ...

of gold and have a face value of £100. Gold Britannias also are issued in fractional sizes of one-half, one-quarter, and one-tenth of a troy ounce and with face values of £50, £25, and £10 respectively. In 2013 two additional sizes were introduced, a five-ounce coin of face value £500, and a fractional size of one-twentieth of face value £5. Britannia

silver coin Silver coins are considered the oldest mass-produced form of coinage. Silver has been used as a coinage metal since the times of the Greeks; their silver drachmas were popular trade coins. The ancient Persians used silver coins between 612–33 ...

s contain one troy ounce of silver and have a face value of £2. Silver Britannias also are issued in fractional sizes of one-half, one-quarter, and one-tenth of a troy ounce and with face values of £1, 50p, and 20p respectively. Like the gold coins in 2013 two additional sizes were introduced, a five-ounce coin of face value £10, and a fractional size of one-twentieth of face value 10p.

Gold Britannia

From 2013 the gold coins have a

millesimal fineness The fineness of a precious metal object (coin, bar, jewelry, etc.) represents the weight of ''fine metal'' therein, in proportion to the total weight which includes alloying base metals and any impurities. Alloy metals are added to increase hardne ...

of 0.9999 (or 24 carat gold). Until 2012 the gold coins have a

of 0.917 (91.7% or 22 carat gold) with the non-gold component being

copper Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from la, cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkis ...

until 1989 and silver from 1990. 2013– Gold Britannia specifications (gold content, and approx total weight) :Five ounces: diameter 65 mm, (156.295 g) :One ounce (2013) : diameter 38.61 mm, (31.104 g) 'larger thinner coin' just for 2013 :One ounce (2014–) : diameter 32.69 mm, (31.104 g) :Half ounce: diameter 27 mm, (15.60 g) :One quarter ounce: diameter 22 mm, (7.86 g) :One tenth ounce: diameter 16.50 mm, (3.13 g) :One twentieth ounce: diameter 12 mm, (1.58 g) 1987–2012 Gold Britannia specifications (gold content, not total weight) :One ounce: diameter 32.69 mm, (31.104 g) (total wt 34.050 g) :Half ounce: diameter 27.00 mm, (15.552 g) :Quarter ounce: diameter 22.00 mm,(7.776 g) :Tenth ounce: diameter 16.50 mm, (3.110 g) Gold Britannias are struck to an unlimited mintage every year.

Silver Britannia

Since 2013 the silver coins have been produced with a millesimal fineness of 0.999 (99.9% silver). They have a mass of 31.21 grams and diameter of 38.61 mm. From 1997 to 2012 the silver coins had a millesimal fineness of 958 (95.8% or

Britannia silver Britannia silver is an alloy of silver containing 11 ozt 10 dwt (i.e. 11½ troy oz.) silver in the pound troy, equivalent to , or 95.833% by weight (mass) silver, the rest usually being copper. This standard was introduced in England by Act of ...

). Total mass 32.45 grams, diameter 40.00 mm. Silver Britannias have been released each year beginning in 1997, when a silver proof set was offered. In 1998 and in all subsequent even-numbered years the reverse design has depicted a standing

figure. Beginning in 1999 and continuing in odd-numbered years, a series of alternate, non-repeating depictions of Britannia have replaced the standing figure on the reverse. Starting in 2013, the proof versions of the coin will feature a different design each year, while the bullion version of the coin will always feature the classic standing Britannia. While mintage was limited prior to 2013, in 2013 and after mintage of the bullion version of the coin is unlimited based on demand. Some 2014 silver Britannia coins were struck with the incorrect obverse as there was a mix up during the manufacturing process with the 'Lunar' Year of the Horse coins from The Royal Mint, as both coins were to the same fineness and specification, and similar but not identical obverse sides. It is thought that there are around 17,000 examples with the mis-strike, which have been dubbed the 'Mule Britannia' These coins have fetched substantial premiums on online auction sites.

Silver Britannia mintages

The following table has the most recent numbers of coins minted by year.

Coin designs

References

* *''Coins of England & The United Kingdom'', 40th ed., Spink, 2005, {{ISBN, 1-902040-59-7 British gold coins Britannia Bullion coins of the United Kingdom Gold bullion coins Silver bullion coins Platinum bullion coins

Gold Britannia

Silver Britannia

Silver Britannia mintages

Coin designs

See also

References