Britannia once again majestically adorns a new collection of gold and silver coins released by the British Royal Mint within its 2010 Britannia Silver and Gold Collections.
These coins come in four different sizes including one ounce, one half ounce, one quarter ounce and one tenth ounce -- with all of them featuring a new design of Britannia on the reverse as envisioned by artist Suzie Zamit.
The Royal Mint is delighted to introduce the 2009 Britannia collection, featuring Philip Nathan's famous 1997 design of Britannia standing tall in her chariot.
His stunning design appears on the reverse, while the current portrait of Her Majesty the Queen takes pride of place on the obverse - the first time that the two designs have appeared alongside each other on a gold coin.
The 2009 collection is the eighth in a series of Britannia commemorative coins to be released since their inception by the Royal Mint in 1987. Unusually for UK gold coins, the Britannia Collection is struck to 22 carat gold Proof quality, but with a small quantity of silver added to the alloy, resulting in a brilliant yellow gold finish.
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.