Silver Britannia
Coins
Silver Britannia coins are one of the UK’s most popular coins and the silver counterpart to the much-loved gold Britannia. First issued in 1987, the silver Britannia is renowned for its high purity, advanced security features, and iconic depiction of Britannia, the personification of Britain.
Let’s dive into the history and characteristics of the silver Britannia to see what makes these coins such a special and valuable investment.
History of the silver Britannia coin
Britannia silver coins were first launched in 1997 as the silver counterpart to the popular gold Britannia bullion coins.
The first silver Britannias were struck from Britannia silver, an alloy of .958 purity (composed mainly of silver with some copper). This alloy was introduced as an alternative to the sterling silver standard during King William III’s great recoinage scheme in 1696. Choosing this alloy for the silver Britannias added an extra layer of British heritage to the coins and made the silver Britannia unique amongst other bullion coins. These early silver coins, struck until 2012, had a weight of 32.45 grams per troy ounce with a diameter of 40 mm – larger than most modern silver bullion coins.
In 2013, in response to a growing preference for .999 fine silver, the Royal Mint increased the silver Britannia’s purity to .999 fine silver. At the same time, the new coins featured a lighter weight and smaller diameter. Silver Britannias issued from 2013 and later weigh 31.21 grams and have a diameter of 38.61 mm, specs that are more in line with other 1 oz silver bullion coins.
Beside the changes in purity, size, and weight, the British silver Britannia has maintained its symbolic imagery over the years. The reverse side continues to feature Philip Nathan’s iconic depiction of Britannia, while the obverse has been updated occasionally to reflect the reigning monarch’s effigy.
Silver Britannia effigies
Since its first debut in 1997, the silver Britannia bullion coin has featured three distinct portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and, more recently, a portrait of King Charles III.
- 1997: The first silver Britannias featured Queen Elizabeth II’s third-generation portrait by Raphael Maklouf. This portrait, designed in 1985, depicts the Queen in a right-profile relief wearing the royal diadem crown. Maklouf’s effigy only appears on these 1997 silver Britannias, adding to the collectible appeal of these first-issue coins.
- 1998-2015: Between 1998 and 2015, silver Britannia coins portrayed Ian Rank-Broadley’s fourth-generation portrait of Her Majesty. This design depicts the Queen at 70 years old, wearing her Golden Wedding Crown.
- 2016-2022: 2016 saw the debut of the Queen’s fifth-generation portrait, created by Jody Clark. This design combines the realism of Rank-Broadley’s design with Maklouf’s regality, portraying the Queen at 89 years old wearing her royal diadem.
- 2023+: Queen Elizabeth II’s passing in September 2022 ushered in a new era for silver Britannia coins. For the second 2023 release, Martin Jennings sculpted the first effigy portraying King Charles III in left-profile relief without a crown.
Who is Britannia?
Britannia is the female personification of Britain and the figure appearing on both silver and gold Britannia coins. Her history as a symbol of British strength and resilience goes back thousands of years to 119 AD, when she first appeared on Roman coins during the rule of Emperor Hadrian.
At the time, Britannia was a term used to describe the British Isles under Roman control. In these first coins, Britannia was depicted as a warrior figure with a trident and shield – a protector of her land and people against invaders. With the end of Roman rule, Britannia’s image disappeared from British coinage for more than 1,500 years.
In 1697, Britannia’s image was revived by King Charles II, who placed her on the British farthing. British naval power was waning at the time, and the King wanted to boost morale in the country. Her symbolism as a strong, powerful protector of the people helped fortify the nation’s spirit. Britannia returned in 1797, appearing on the famous cartwheel pennies and two pence coins during King George III’s reign. Her image has continued to grace various British coins over the years, and today, she is tied to Britain’s identity through her namesake bullion coins.
In 1987, the Royal Mint launched the gold Britannia bullion coin series, with Britannia as its figurehead. For this modern era, renowned sculptor Philip Nathan created a design that reimagined Britannia as a standing figure with a trident in her hand and shield by her side. Based on an engraving by Goerge William de Saulles, Nathan’s depiction of Britannia honors Britain’s past and celebrates its global influence. With her shield, helmet, and trident, Britannia captures the spirit of the British Empire.
Silver Britannia coin sizes
Silver Britannia bullion coins are issued in various sizes, from the smallest 1/20 oz up to 5 oz (and even 1kg!). All sizes feature the same iconic Britannia design but differ in weight and silver content. Below are the available sizes in the silver Britannia range:
- 5 oz silver Britannia: This is the largest coin in the silver Britannia range, weighing 156.295 grams. The 5 oz silver Britannia, which has a face value of £10, is ideal for investors looking to acquire larger quantities of silver. For collectors, the 5 oz silver Britannia offers a larger diameter with more striking imagery.
- 1 oz silver Britannia: The 1 oz silver Britannia is the most popular size, containing exactly one troy ounce (31.1 grams) of .999 pure silver. These coins have a face value of £2.
- ½ oz silver Britannia: With a face value of £1 and weighing 15.55 grams, the ½ oz silver Britannia offers solid silver content at a lower entry price.
- ¼ oz silver Britannia: The ¼ silver Britannia offers a smaller, incremental option for those looking to gradually add silver to their portfolio. These coins weigh 7.78 grams and have a face value of 50p.
- 1/10 oz silver Britannia: At 3.11 grams, and with a face value of 20p, the 1/10 oz Britannia is accessible for new investors.
- 1/20 oz silver Britannia: First released in 2013, the 1/20 oz silver Britannia weighs 1.55 grams and has a face value of 10p.
Silver Britannias are also available in larger denominations, such as the 10z silver Britannia, with a face value of £20, and the 1kg silver Britannia, which has a face value of £500.
Silver Britannia coin size chart
Compare the various sizes of silver Britannias in this chart.
| COIN SIZE | FACE VALUE | WEIGHT |
| 5 oz | £10 | 156.395 grams |
| 1 oz | £2 | 31.1 grams |
| ½ oz | £1 | 15.55 grams |
| ¼ oz | 50p | 7.78 grams |
| 1/10 oz | 20p | 3.11 grams |
| 1/20 oz | 10p | 1.55 grams |
Silver Britannia coin design
The reverse of the silver Britannia coin features the iconic Philip Nathan depiction of Britannia. This image was first created for the gold Britannia, which debuted in 1987, and it continues to be used on all three metallic versions of the Britannia today.
In his winning design, Nathan places Britannia at the edge of the sea, a symbol of Britain’s historical naval power and seafaring legacy. She wears a Corinthian helmet and a flowing gown, with her hair blowing in the wind. In her right hand, she holds a trident, invoking Poseidon’s power over the sea. In her left hand is an olive branch held alongside a shield emblazoned with the Union Jack, symbolising a dual commitment to both peace and defense.
The background behind Britannia has been updated occasionally. Until 2016, silver Britannia coins featured a hammered, stippled background that creates a textured look. In 2017, this was replaced by a radiant sunburst design behind Britannia’s figure. The obverse background has also changed. Earlier coins mirrored the stippled pattern behind the Queen’s effigy, but in 2018, a guilloche design was introduced. This braided pattern is designed to add extra anti-counterfeiting measure.
Silver Britannia coin special issues
The silver Britannia series includes limited-issue coins with unique design features or privy marks. Let’s take a look at the most notable silver Britannia special issues:
- Lunar Series Privy Mark Britannias (2013+): In 2013, the Royal Mint introduced a Lunar Series privy mark, embedding coins with a small symbol representing the year’s Chinese Zodiac animal. These silver Britannias feature the same classic design but with a privy mark referencing the lunar animal. Examples include the 2013 Year of the Snake and 2014 Year of the Horse.
- S.S. Gairsoppa Silver Britannia: This unique issue was struck from silver recovered from the wreck of the S.S. Gairsoppa, a British cargo ship sunk during World War II. These special ¼ oz coins include the engraving ‘S.S. Gairsoppa’ on the edge.
- 20th Anniversary Britannia: To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the silver Britannia series in 2017, the Royal Mint added a small trident head with a ‘2’ and an ‘0’ on either side of the tridet’s middle spike.
- Oriental Border Silver Britannia: These coins, issued in 2018, include a beautifully intricate border around the reverse side. Inspired by the British Trade Dollar, the design pays homage to Britain’s 19th century trade with China. The coins had a limited mintage of 100,000.
- Colorised Silver Britannia: Each year, the Royal Mint issues a colorised version of the silver Britannia, adding a vibrant layer to Britannia’s image on the reverse side.
- Gilded Silver Britannia: The silver Britannia series also offers an annual gilded version, featuring a thin layer of 24-carat gold applied to Britannias’s figure.
Silver Britannia security features
In 2021, the Royal Mint introduced four new security features to the silver Britannia coin series, making them one of the most secure silver bullion coins on the market today. These features were added to the coin’s reverse and incorporated into the design, adding both aesthetic appeal and security against counterfeiting.
The silver Britannia’s security features include:
- Micro-text: The rim around the edge of the Britannia design bears a fine micro-text that reads ‘Decus et Tutamen’, a Latin phrase meaning ‘An Ornament and a Safeguard’.
- Tincture lines: Delicate tincture lines were added to the Union Jack flag on Britannia’s shield.
- Latent feature: On the lower-left side of the coin, a latent image was added that shifts between a padlock and a trident depending on the viewing angle.
- Surface animation: The background field now features a dynamic, textured design that creates an animated, wave-like effect as the viewing angle changes.