The image of Britannia is 300 years old, but the concept of this goddess protector of the British Isles stretches back to the Roman invasions of the early 1st century AD. The term Britannia has been used to reference the island itself, the people of Britain, and more recently as a guardian angel of sorts protecting the United Kingdom from invasion. The 2016 1 oz British Silver Britannia presents Britannia as protector on its reverse face, and is now available from JM Bullion in perfect condition.
Coin Highlights:
- Ships to you in a protective plastic slab courtesy of the NGC.
- Contains 1 oz of .999 pure silver.
- Issued a face value of £2 (GBP) by the British government.
- Earned a grade of Mint State 70 from the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation.
- Bears the image of Britannia on the reverse.
- All-new image of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse.
- Unique textured finish to both sides.
All 2016 British Silver Britannia coins listed on this JM Bullion page are Mint State 70 coins according to the NGC. Coins with this grade exhibit full, original luster from the mint and are free of any blemishes, contact marks, hairlines, or other detracting flaws.
The unique textured finish on these coins gives them a special visual appeal that is not commonly found on other coins. The background fields on both sides are dominated by a hammered, rippling look that creates a different appearance for these coins compared to other bullion and proof products.
On the reverse face of the coin is the image of Britannia, protector of the British Isles. Engravings on this side include the name “Britannia,” the year of issue, weight, purity, and metal content of the coin.
The obverse features the latest right-profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Jody Clark created this new portrait in 2015, and became the youngest artist to contribute a profile of Her Majesty for use on British coins. This new depiction replaces the 1998 image from Sir Ian Rank-Broadley.
The Royal Mint is one of Europe’s oldest minting facilities, having been founded in 886 as the London Mint. British Britannia coins are available in gold (since 1987) as well as silver (since 1997).
Please direct your questions to a JM Bullion associate at 800-276-6508, or reach out to us online using our live chat and email features. If you are interested in similar products, check out our full selection of Silver British Coins.