Britannia gets new look on proof bullion
In early July, Britain’s Royal Mint announced this year’s Britannia proof issues. The reverse design for 2018 comes from sculptor David Lawrence, who presents a fresh new take on behelmed…
In early July, Britain’s Royal Mint announced this year’s Britannia proof issues.
The reverse design for 2018 comes from sculptor David Lawrence, who presents a fresh new take on behelmed Britannia. She gazes pensively, her helm decorated with a wreath of oak, daffodil, Scotch thistle, shamrock and rose representing the component parts of Britain.
Lawrence commented, “I wanted to create something with classical grace about it and a certain amount of gravitas: coins of the realm, especially when cast in valuable metals, are a serious business. I enrolled various family members to pose, bedecked with bedsheets and broomsticks for reference shots. It was then a matter of working through the compositions until some pleasing shapes could be resolved within the constriction of the coin’s roundel.”
There are 16 proof coins in this year’s issue. For the first time, they include a 1 kilo silver proof £500.
The coins are .999 fine silver: 8.00 mm, 0.80 g (1/40 oz) 5p; 12.00 mm, 1.58 g (1/20 oz) 10p; 16.50 mm, 3.15 g (1/10 oz) 20p; 22.00 mm, 7.86 g (1/4 oz) 50p; 27.00 mm, 15.71 g (1/2 oz) £1; 38.61 mm, 31.21 g (1 oz) £2; 65 mm, 156.30 g (5 oz) £10; 100.00 mm, 1,005.00 g (1 kilo) £500; .9999 fine gold: 8.00 mm, 0.80g (1/40 oz) 50p; 12.00 mm, 1.58 g (1/20 oz) £1; 16.50 mm, 3.13 g (1/10 oz) £10; 22.00 mm, 7.80 g (1/4 oz) £25; 27.00 mm, 15.60 g (1/2 oz) £50; 32.69 mm, 31.12 g (1 oz) £100; 50.00 mm, 156.30 g (5 oz) £500; .9995 fine platinum: 20.00 mm, 7.85 g (1/4 oz) £25.
Check them out on the Royal Mint website: www.royalmint.com.
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