Silver Britannia Coins

Silver Index

Reverse of 2008 £2 One Ounce Proof Silver Britannia Britannias Index

Obverse of 2008 Proof Silver Britannia

Reverse of 2003 £2 One Ounce Proof Silver Britannia

Reverse of 2001 £2 One Ounce Proof Silver Britannia

Reverse of 1999 £2 One Ounce Proof Silver Britannia

One Ounce Silver Coins
Following the success of the Britannia gold bullion coins introduced in 1987, the Royal Mint started in 1997 to produce a one ounce silver Britannia coin with a face value of two pounds (£2).
The silver Britannias are, quite appropriately, struck in Britannia silver, which is 958 parts per thousand silver, instead of the more usual sterling silver of 925 parts per thousand. Many other world silver coins, particularly those of American influence are struck in only 900 silver.
The concept of the one ounce bullion coin was to provide an easy way to purchase convenient small quantities of bullion silver in the form of coins.
Additionally, the new one ounce coins, are an attractive design, made to appeal to collectors.
The denomination, or face value, is two pounds.

Third Portrait
For the 1997 issue, the portrait used is the "third portrait" as used on British decimal coins from 1985 to 1997.
The reverse type of this year is a very attractive design of Britannia standing in a horse drawn chariot in the manner of Boudicea. 1997 silver Britannias were issued only as proofs. with an issue of 20,000.

Fourth Portrait
From 1998, as with all British coins, the obverse design changed to the "fourth portrait", showing a more mature likeness of The Queen.
The reverse type for 1998 is the standing Britannia as used on the gold Britannias for most years from 1987.

Availability
For reasons known only to itself, the Royal Mint chooses not to issue Britannias, in gold or silver, before August each year. Sometimes the release date gets as late as December, or even January the following year, particularly for the gold bullion versions. In recent years, some of these dates seem to have been brought forward.

Standing Britannia
The standing Britannia was first used on the florins of Edward VII from 1902 to 1910 inclusive, and was originally engraved by G.W. De Saulles.
The current version was introduced for the gold Britannias in 1987, and features on the silver Britannias of 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004.

Special (Single Year) Designs
The first of the special single year designs was for the 10th anniversary of the gold Britannias in 1997, when the silver Britannias were also introduced. Since then, the Royal Mint seem to have settled on a pattern of alternating the classic standing Britannia with a one-off design. Special designs have therefore been issued in 1997, 1999, 2001, and 2003. The 1997 and 1999 were the same chariot design, but one year was proof only, and the other year was uncirculated only.

Complete Sets
We can also offer two different sets, both complete with cases.

1. Type set of all four different designs, one each of 1999, 2001, 2003, and one other date of our choice with the classic Britannia, complete in an attractive plastic case.
2. Complete set of all seven different dates from 1999 to 2004 inclusive, complete in two attractive plastic cases, with a spare space for next years issue.

Specifications

Denomination	Diameter	Silver Content	Total Weight	Fine Weight
2 Pounds	40.00 mm	958 / 1000	32.45 grams	31.10 grams
1 Pound	27.00 mm	958 / 1000	16.22 grams	15.55 grams
50 Pence	22.00 mm	958 / 1000	8.11 grams	7.77 grams
20 Pence	16.50 mm	958 / 1000	3.24 grams	3.10 grams

Dates & Versions Available

Date	Version	Mintage	Obverse	Reverse	Availability	Price £	Price $
1997	Proof Only	20,000	Third Portrait	Chariot	Sold Out	£40	$80
1998	Uncirculated	100,000	Fourth Portrait	Standing	Yes	£19.95	$39.95
1998	Proof	20,000	Fourth Portrait	Standing	Sold Out	£40	$80
1999	Uncirculated	100,000	Fourth Portrait	Chariot	Yes	£19.95	$39.95
2000	Uncirculated	100,000	Fourth Portrait	Standing	Ask	£19.95	$39.95
2001	Uncirculated	100,000	Fourth Portrait	Lion	Yes	£19.95	$39.95
2002	Uncirculated	100,000	Fourth Portrait	Standing	Yes	£19.95	$39.95
2003	Uncirculated	100,000	Fourth Portrait	Head	Yes	£19.95	$39.95
2003	Proof	5,000	Fourth Portrait	Head	Sold Out	£34.95	$70
2004	Uncirculated	100,000	Fourth Portrait	Standing	Yes	£19.95	$39.95
2005	Uncirculated	100,000	Fourth Portrait	Seated	Ask	£19.95	$39.95
2005	Proof	2,500	Fourth Portrait	Seated	Sold Out	£39.95	$80
2006	Uncirculated	100,000	Fourth Portrait	Standing	Yes	£19.95	$39.95
2007	Uncirculated	100,000	Fourth Portrait	Seated	Ask	£19.95	$39.95
2008	Uncirculated	100,000	Fourth Portrait	Seaside	Yes	£19.95	$39.95
2008	Proof	2,500	Fourth Portrait	Seaside	Yes	£42.95	$70
2009	Uncirculated	100,000	Fourth Portrait	Guess	2009	£TBA	$TBA
Type Set of 5 Cased	Uncirculated			5 Types	Yes	£95	$160
Complete Set of all 11 Dates 1998 - 2008	Uncirculated			All	Ask	£Ask	$Ask

Notes
* = Special Pre Release Prices

Britannia Sets
We sometimes have a few of the four coin proof sets available. They contain one each of the one ounce, half ounce, quarter ounce, and tenth ounce Britannias.

Date	Version	Mintage	Obverse	Reverse	Availability	Price £	Price $
1997	Proof Only	11,832	Third Portrait	Chariot	Sold Out	£125	$230
1998	Proof Only	3,044	Third Portrait	Standing	Sold Out	£145	$270
2001	Proof Only	10,000	Fourth Portrait	Lion	Yes	£110	$178
2003	Proof Only	5,000	Fourth Portrait	Waves	Yes	£110	$178
2005	Proof Only	3,500	Fourth Portrait	Seated	Yes	£110	$178
2008	Proof Only	2,500	Fourth Portrait	Seaside	Yes	£105	$178

Tenth Ounce - Twenty Pence
The tenth ounce coin, with a face value of twenty pence, is sometimes issued separately, in proof finish.
The half and quarter ounce versions were not issued separately.

Date	Version	Mintage	Obverse	Reverse	In Stock	Price £	Price $
1997	Proof Only	50,000	Third Portrait	Chariot	Yes	£22.95	$38
1998	Proof Only	10,000	Third Portrait	Chariot	Sold Out	£15	$25
2001	Proof Only	10,000	Fourth Portrait	Lion	Yes	£22.95	$38
2003	Proof Only	10,000	Fourth Portrait	Lion	Yes	£22.95	$38
2005	Proof Only	2,500	Fourth Portrait	Seated	Sold Out	£22.95	$38

Postage & Packing:
UK: At buyer's Risk £2.50 or
Fully Insured £6 (Usually by Royal Mail Special Delivery)
USA: Airmail at buyer's risk $10 or
Fully Insured $20
For further details, please see our Postage & Packing page.

Year 2000 Britannias.

The Story of Britannia on British Coins

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Gold Britannia Bullion Coins
For more information about Gold Britannia bullion coins of all four sizes, and information about tax free gold, please visit out newest web site Tax Free Gold

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