In 2017, The Royal Mint commemorates the 30th year since the official Britannia silver bullion coin design was first released. Sculptor Philip Nathan, the designer of the first Britannia silver coin in 1987, envisaged her as a classic and evolving icon.
In this classic British silver bullion coin design, she stands firm against a powerful gale which whips around her shield, Corinthian helmet and olive branch. Britannia has a long history with Britain and its coinage, she is the embodiment of the nation she has represented for almost 2,000 years, ever since the Romans invaded the isles and claimed them as the province of Britannia. She first appeared on the Roman coins of Emperor Hadrian circa AD 119 and was revived for the coinage of Charles II in 1672.
When Britannia Silver Coins were added to The Royal Mint’s Bullion portfolio in 1987, in response to a growing global bullion market demand, Philip Nathan created an interpretation of Britannia that was perfect for the new silver coins. He presented the icon with a strong maritime influence, standing windswept in a classical gown, waves at her feet; trident, shield and olive branch in hand – instantly recognizable in an international market, the modern face of British Bullion and a symbol of strength and tradition.
First struck in 1987, Silver Britannia Coins became an instant classic – today it marks one of the flagship bullion coins produced by The Royal Mint. Philip Nathan’s craftsmanship reimagined an instantly recognizable icon. His Silver Britannia Coin design is commanding, powerful, yet feminine, peaceful, and elegant 30 years on.
Silver Britannia bullion coins are renowned for their beauty and reliability, with their weight and quality verified at the centuries-old annual Trial of the Pyx.