Silver Britannias

Britannia was originally the Latin name that the Roman Empire gave to the island of Great Britain and its possessions. After the fall of the Roman Empire it had lost most symbolic meaning until the rise of British influence. Britannia had been renewed during the time of Queen Victoria,. Still depicted as a young woman with brown or golden hair, she kept her Corinthian helmet and her white robes, but now she held Poseidon’s three-pronged trident and often stood in the ocean, representing British naval power. She also usually held or stood beside a Greek hoplon shield, which sported the British Union Jack. At her feet was often the British Lion, the national animal of England. Britannia first appeared on the farthing in 1672, followed by the halfpenny later the same year under Charles II. Source Wikipedia

The Royal Mint introduced the Britannia gold bullion coins in 1987. As part of the tenth anniversary of producing these coins, the Royal Mint introduced the one ounce silver Britannia bullion coin with a face value of £2. Silver Britannias are struck in Britannia silver, an alloy consisting of 958 parts per thousand silver, instead of the more usual alloy of sterling silver, consistion of 925 parts per thousand silver. Comparatively, the American Silver Eagle contains 999 parts per thousand silver and the Canadian Maple Leaf consists of 999.9 parts per thousand silver. The balance of the alloy is usally copper.

The first of the special single year designs was for the 10th anniversary of the gold Britannias in 1997. In 1998, the Royal Mint used the classic image of the standing Britannia and have alternated that image with a new design since. The standing Britannia has appeared in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006. A different design appeared in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2005. A new design will be introduced for the 2007 mintage.

Specifications

Denomination Diameter Content Total Weight Actual Silver Weight
£ 2 40 mm .958 fine silver 32.454 g / 1.0430 oz 31.102 g / 1.000 oz
£ 1 27 mm .958 fine silver 16.227 g / 0.5217 oz 15.551 g / 0.500 oz
50 p 22 mm .958 fine silver  8.114 g / 0.2608 oz  7.776 g / 0.250 oz
20 p 16.5 mm .958 fine silver  3.246 g / 0.1043 oz  3.110 g / 0.100 oz

Mintage

  £2 BU £2 Proof £1 Proof 50p Proof 20p Proof Proof Set
1997 (Proof only)   16,005 11,832 11,832 20,518 11,832
1998 88,909 5,212 3,044 3,044 5,768 3,044
1999 (BU only) 69,394          
2000 (BU only) 81,301          
2001 44,816 7,643 4,596 4,596 10,000* 4,596
2002 (BU only) 48,215          
2003 73,271 5,456 3,623 3,623 4,626 3,623
2004 100,000* 5,000*        
2005 100,000* 10,000* 5,000* 5,000* 10,000* 5,000*
2006 100,000* 2,750*        
* The total mintage is not known, the maximum mintage allowed is provided.

Obverse Designs

HM Queen Elizabeth II
Click to enlarge		 For the 1997, the silver Britannia coins was minted with the official “Third Portrait” of HM Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. This portrait was designed by Raphael Maklouf FRSA and shows the Queen with the Royal Diadem which she wears on her way to and from the State Opening of Parliament.
Source: Royal Mint
HM Queen Elizabeth II
Click to enlarge		 The fourth portrait of Her Majesty the Queen was introduced for all Commonwealth coinage in 1998. It is the work of sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS, FSNAD and is only the fourth portrait of Her Majesty the Queen to appear on coins of her long reign. Her Majesty is wearing the tiara which was used in an earlier coinage portrait by Arnold Machin.
Source: Royal Mint
The Queen is shown facing right, in accordance with a tradition dating back to the seventeenth century, where successive monarchs face in alternative directions on the coinage.

Reverse Designs

1997 Britannia Reverse
Click to enlarge		 Used in 1997 and 1999. From their introduction in 1987, the gold Britannia coins used the standing Britannia design on the reverse. On the tenth anniversary of the program and the introduction of the silver Britannia, a new deisign was created. The design was a figure of Britannia driving a chariot in the manner of Boudica was designed by Philip Nathan.
Boudica, also know as Boadicea, was ruler of the Iceni tribe in eastern England and Queen of the Britons. She led her forces in revolt against the Romans and sacked Colchester, St. Albans, and London before being defeated by the Roman governor, Suetonius Paulinus. She died in the year 62 CE.
Standing Britannia Reverse
Click to enlarge		 Used in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006. Following the successful launch of the silver Britannia coins, the Royal Mint returned to the standing Britannia design. Created by Philip Nathan, Britannia is depicted adorned in flowing robes standing proud in defence of Britain’s shores. The design recalls the design used on florins of Edward VII.
2001 Britannia Reverse
Click to enlarge		 Used in 2001. The design chosen for 2001 depicts Britannia standing, accompanied by a lion, similar to the Una and the Lion reverse used on the rare 1839 £5 gold coins.
Una is a character in The Faerie Queen, an English epic poem by Edmund Spenser. It is an allegorical work, written in praise of Queen Elizabeth I. Una, the personification of the True Church. She travels with the Redcrosse Knight (who represents England), whom she has recruited to save her parents’ castle from a dragon. She also defeats Duessa, who represents the false (Catholic) church and the person of Mary, Queen of Scots, in a trial reminiscent of that which ended in Mary’s beheading. Una is also representitive of Truth.
Source: Wikipedia
2003 Britannia Reverse
Click to enlarge		 Used in 2003. The 2003 design, by sculptor Philip Nathan, depicts Britannia wearing a helmet in her brave defence of the British shores. The design is enhanced by a mighty rolling wave, symbolising Britain’s proud naval history—from Alfred the Great to the present day.
Source: Royal Mint
2005 Britannia Reverse
Click to enlarge		 Used in 2005. This design, by sculptor Philip Nathan, features a seated figure of Britannia. It is similar to the design used on halfpennies and farthings starting in 1672. Those coins reflects the original personification of Britannia on Roman coins of Hadrian.
Source: Chard
2007 Britannia Reverse
Click to enlarge		 Will be used in 2007. The reverse design features Christopher Le Brun’s portrayal of a seated Britannia gazing out to sea, with cliffs disappearing into the background and a lion stretched out at her feet. The contemporary design incorporates the traditional symbolism of Britannia with the inclusion of Neptune’s trident resting in her right hand, a sprig of olive in her left and a shield standing prominently at her side.
Source: Royal Mint press release
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