An iconic figure and a modern coin tradition – the annual release of The Royal Mint’s Silver BU Britannia for 2015…
The Royal Mint has announced the release of the Brilliant Uncirculated Britannia Silver One Ounce coin for 2015 featuring the acclaimed Britannia portrait by sculptor Philip Nathan. Britannia was first featured on Britain’s coinage in Roman times, and has appeared on British coins frequently since then, the symbolic defender of the British Isles. Nathan’s strong yet feminine design now appears on the Brilliant Uncirculated Britannia silver coin year on year, and this ‘modern’ tradition continues with the release of the 2015 version of this classic coin.
It was in 1987 that The Royal Mint commissioned Philip Nathan to capture the portrait of Britannia as the personification of the British nation. He looked to Britain’s maritime heritage for inspiration, and the result – his elegant, watchful sentinel – is pictured as a silent guardian of British shores. With trident held aloft and shield set firm, she is an instant modern-day classic.
Shane Bissett, The Royal Mint’s Director of Commemorative Coin and Bullion, said, “Philip Nathan’s signature Britannia portrait has endured for more than a quarter of a century – and with its year-dated Brilliant Uncirculated finish, has become an eagerly anticipated annual release.”
The BU Britannia coin contains one full ounce of 999 fine silver, and is finished to The Royal Mint’s Brilliant Uncirculated standard finish. Accompanied by information detailing Britannia’s illustrious past, the Britannia coin is year dated – perfect for marking a special moment in time.
About The Royal Mint
The Royal Mint has an unbroken history of minting British coinage dating back over 1,000 years. By the late thirteenth century the organisation was based in the Tower of London, and remained there for over 500 years. By 1812 The Royal Mint had moved out of the Tower to premises on London’s Tower Hill. In 1967 the building of a new Royal Mint began on its current site in South Wales, UK.
While The Royal Mint’s finest traditions are always respected, it continually innovates in order to stay at the forefront of world minting, embracing the latest production techniques and technology in order to offer excellence to our clients across the globe. By underpinning our proud heritage with a highly progressive outlook, The Royal Mint produces coins that remain a byword for trust and reliability the world over.
There were estimated to be 28.9 billion UK coins in circulation at 31 March 2014 ,with a total face value of over £4 billion, all manufactured by The Royal Mint. In total, nearly 2 billion UK coins were issued during 2013-14.
As well as over 1,000 years of producing British coinage, The Royal Mint has long been trusted with the currencies of other countries. It has served more than 100 issuing authorities around the world and currently meets approximately 15% of global demand, making us the world’s leading export mint.
The Royal Mint has been making official military campaign medals since it was commissioned to make awards for soldiers who fought in the battle of Waterloo in 1815. The year 2012 was of particular significance for The Royal Mint’s medal-making team, with the manufacture of all 4,700 Victory Medals for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Royal Mint has recently introduced a new fineness of Britannia bullion coins and a highly-secure on-site bullion vault storage facility, building on the gold Sovereign’s long-standing reputation for integrity, accuracy. This positions The Royal Mint and its bullion products as a premium proposition in this marketplace.
In September 2014, The Royal Mint launched a new bullion trading website, www.royalmintbullion.com, enabling customers to buy, store and sell bullion coins at constantly updated prices directly from The Royal Mint quickly, effortlessly and securely, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
In April 2014, The Royal Mint unveiled plans to develop a purpose-built visitor centre at its headquarters in Llantrisant, South Wales. Construction is expected to be completed during 2016.
This 10,000 mintage 2015 Britannia sports the shinny finish, not the dimpled finish of the mass produced BU. To my mind, that makes this a highly collectable coin. Although it is pricy in the special presentation package at the Royal Mint, it is definitely worth owning! I will have an unboxing on youtube shortly.