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.
Britannia Background & History
The Royal Mint’s website provides the following history of Britannia:
Britannia has symbolised Britain and her proud island heritage since the time of the Roman Emperor Hadrian (117-138AD). She first appeared on British currency in 1672 on the copper coins of Charles II. Used as a political symbol of the war with the Dutch, her olive branch represented a desire for peace above conflict.
Britannia has graced the coins of every British monarch since Charles II reflecting, in various poses, the changing status of the island nation as well as her ancient origins. Usually but not always depicted seated, Britannia gazes steadfastly towards a future in which she may be challenged but not overcome.
2008 UK Britannia specifications, prices and order details
Each of the 2008 Britannia coins are limited in mintage. The silver £1 and 50p and the gold £100 and £50 are exclusive to their four-coin sets.
The silver coins contain 95.8% silver while the gold are struck in 22 carat gold. The following two tables contain additional information.
Silver proof coins
|
Weight
(gms) |
Diameter |
Ounces
|
Mintage
(sold indiv.) |
Price
|
|
| £2 |
32.45
|
40.00
|
1
|
2,500*
|
£47.50
|
| £1 |
16.23
|
27.00
|
1/2
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
| 50p |
8.11
|
22.00
|
1/4
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
| 20p |
3.25
|
16.50
|
1/10
|
2,500**
|
£19.95
|
| 4-Coin Set |
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
2,500
|
£115.00
|
*10,000 total mintage
**An additional 2,500 are sold within the four-coin set.
Gold proof coins
|
Weight
(gms) |
Diameter |
Ounces
|
Mintage
(sold indiv.) |
Price
|
|
| £100 |
32.05
|
32.69
|
1
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
| £50 |
17.03
|
27.00
|
1/2
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
| £25 |
8.51
|
22.00
|
1/4
|
1,000
|
£199.00
|
| £10 |
3.41
|
16.50
|
1/10
|
1,000
|
£105.00
|
| 4-Coin Set |
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
1,250
|
£1,380.00
|
Britannia Silver and gold coin order information
The coins are available online through The Royal Mint page:
Or, by calling the following Mint numbers:
United Kingdom: +44 (0)845 60 88 222
United States: 1-866-519-7298 9am to 10pm (GMT) Toll free
Canada: 1-866-924-0861 9am to 10pm (GMT) Toll free
About the Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is a department of government and its primary responsibility remains the provision of the United Kingdom coinage. Its reputation, however, extends beyond this and internationally it has a reputation for making some fascinating coins for over 100 countries.
The history of the Royal Mint itself stretches back over 1100 years. There is an unbroken link from the scattered workshops of the moneyers of Anglo-Saxon London to a single mint within the Tower of London, from a purpose-built premises at Tower Hill to the huge modern coining plant in South Wales.
In April 1975 the Mint was established as a Government Trading Fund, operationally very similar to a government-owned company.
Britannia Gold and Silver Bullion Proof Coins are the one of most popular collector coins. So it is no accident that it was sold out in 2007. This year Britannia Bullion Coin design is changed again to attact collectors to buy again. It is good possibility that 2008 Silver and Gold Britannia Proof Coin Set could be sold out again!