The British Royal Mint launched brilliant uncirculated 2008 United Kingdom £5 Gold Coins this week and announced that they would have an extremely low mintage of 750. The annual issued coins are struck in 22 carat gold with each measuring an impressive 36.02 millimetres in diameter.
It’s the largest coin of the gold sovereign family and weighs 39.94 grammes and contains 1.1771 ounces of gold, which is five times the amount within a single sovereign.
The obverse of heads side of the coins bears Her Majesty The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS. The reverse or tails side depicts Benedetto Pistrucci’s dramatic portrayal of St George and the dragon.
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A new elegant Britannia design adorns freshly minted 2008 United Kingdom silver and gold collector coins launched by The Royal Mint. The bullion proof coins bear a standing portrait of Britannia, incorporating the motifs of the lighthouse, the trident, the shield and the helmet, as waves crash in the background.
"She [Britannia] almost appears to form part of the sea that surrounds and protects the British Isles."
The new design rendered by John Bergdahl is the latest depiction of Britannia, and the seventh in the series since it was introduced in 1987. It’s featured on the reverse or tails side of the silver proof £2, £1, 50p and 20p coins as well as the gold proof £100, £50, £25 and £10 coins.
The obverse or heads side of each bullion coin bears the portrait of Her Majesty The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.
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The Royal Mint has announced another year of financial success and improved profitability – a further year of improved performance.
An operating profit before exceptional items of £9. 6 million (2006-07: £8. 7m) has been delivered on sales of £131. 8 million, and profit after exceptional items and interest was £7. 2 million, compared with £1. 2 million for the previous year. This improved financial performance, which exceeds the Ministerial Target, means the Royal Mint will pay a dividend of £3. 9 million into the public purse.
These results reflect the Royal Mint’s position as the leading exporting mint in the world, with approximately 15% of the available global market, consolidating its status as a major supplier of steel-plated coinage products.
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The British Royal Mint has announced the sale of the extremely limited 2008 UK Queen Elizabeth I £5 Piedfort Platinum Proof Coin, and only days after releasing the four-coin silver proof Piedforts.
The platinum coin, like its sister silver version, has the piedfort-style double weight and thickness. It’s on sale for a whopping £5250 (~$10,264 USD). Too high? Set aside the coin’s beauty and consider only its limited 150 issuance and 3 ounce platinum content. You might just reconsider.
And you may want to hurry. The Royal Mint’s two previous years’ platinum Piedforts sold out.
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The Royal Mint launched their very limited 2008 UK Silver Proof Piedfort Four-Coin Collection for £249.95 (~$490 USD). Piedfort coins are unique with their contrasting double weight and thickness. The name ‘Piedfort’ (Pee-ay-fore) actually comes from the French word meaning "heavy measure."
The four coin silver proof collection includes the £1 coin bearing a fresh rendition of the Royal Arms, and this year’s three commemorative coins:
- £5 pieces honouring the 450th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth I
- £5 pieces honouring the 60th birthday of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and
- the bi-colour £2 coin marking the centenary of the Olympic Games held in London in 1908
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Shield of Royal Arms to feature on first new design in 40 years
The Royal Mint today unveiled innovative new designs to feature on the reverse of seven of the United Kingdom’s coins.
Chosen through a public competition that attracted more than 4,000 entries, the coins feature different details of the Shield of the Royal Arms and when placed together, will reveal the complete shield of arms.
This is the first new design to feature on many of the coins in more than forty years, and the first time a single design has been used across a range of coins in this way. The coins are expected to enter circulation gradually from this summer, featuring alongside the current 27 billion coins currently in circulation, including the more than 800 million 50p coins featuring Britannia.
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The British Royal Mint is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the decimal £1 coin with two special and spectacular 14-coin proof collector sets. The rare commemorative 22-carat gold proof set and the .925 sterling silver proof collection each bear reverse designs that have been used on pound coins during the last twenty-five years.
Both sets of coins look exceptional. One thing, however … Do not get too excited about the gold proof set. The coins are already extremely rare. With the Mint only producing 150 sets worldwide, few will ever see them in person.
For an added contrast to the silver proof coins, the Royal Mint added 24-karat gold plating to each coin’s designs, making them "pop" with extra detail.
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The British Royal Mint has released a new 2008 commemorative £5 coin celebrating the 60th birthday of His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales. The limited edition coin comes in Brilliant Uncirculated and Proof versions. The commemorative design is rather unusual in that both sides of the coin bear a prominent head portrait, making it a "two-headed" coin.
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New 2008 commemorative £2 coins celebrating the centenary of the 4th Olympiad in London are available from the British Royal Mint. The attractive, limited edition commemorative coins comes in Brilliant Uncirculated and Proof versions with each bearing a unique reverse design honouring the centenary of the London Olympic Games of 1908.
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The Britannia image has been on British coins for centuries. But no longer. For the first time in more than 300 years, the figure of Britannia will not appear on new British coins.
The image first appeared on the copper farthing back in 1672. And like Lady Liberty is for the US, the Britannia image is filled with history and is symbolic of British democracy, patriotism and liberties.
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