British Silver Coins

British Silver Coins for Investment

Silver is one of the leading precious metals at the moment, and the demand for silver coins from sovereign mint programs and a select few private mints has at times threatened to put all coin programs on halt due to silver shortages. JM Bullion is proud to carry some of the world’s most well-known, and up-and-coming, silver bullion coin programs, including the various Royal Mint silver options from the United Kingdom.

British Silver Britannia Coin Series

The modern-day official bullion coin of Britain, these coins feature an image of the Roman deity Britannia, who served as a protector for the British Isles. Introduced in 1997, these coins were originally available with .958 fine silver but are now produced in .999 pure silver. The 2017 release of these silver coins marks the milestone 20th anniversary for the silver version of Britain’s official bullion coin, and the modern highlights of these coins include:

• Arrives in a protective plastic capsule, mint tube of 25 coins, or Monster Box of 500 coins.
• Contains 1 Troy oz of .999 pure silver in BU condition.
• Bears a face value of 2 (GBP) backed by the British government.

British Silver Britannia coins have had the same design concepts on the obverse and reverse faces of the coin since their introduction in 1997. The only changes ever to come to the program occurred recently with the introduction of an updated portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the coin’s obverse side. Further details include:

• On the obverse of British Silver Britannia Coins dated 1998-2022, you’ll find a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty’s effigy is updated on occasion to reflect her current age on the throne. A new designed debuted on 2016 issue Royal Mint coins from Jody Clark, marking the fifth generation depiction of the Queen.
• In 2023, the Royal Mint introduced the first Britannia Silver Coins without a portrait of Elizabeth II. Following her passing in September 2022, a new bust of King Charles III in left-profile relief was introduced on the coins.
• The reverse of the British Silver Britannia includes the image of the goddess Britannia, famed guardian of Britain. She is depicted standing along the island’s southern coast, looking out across the English Channel with her trident (to control the seas) as she holds a shield in her other hand to guard the nation that bears the Union Jack insignia.

In addition to the regular-issue Silver Britannia coins, there is Royal Mint silver bullion available with unique designs from this same collection. For example, the Silver Britannia is available in a gilded and colorized version, as well.

British Silver Queen’s Beast Coin Series

On June 2, 1953, Her Majesty The Queen was crowned sovereign head of England. During the ceremony, ten heraldic beasts stood guard outside the coronation in Westminster Abbey. The Queen’s Beasts, as they are known, are a collection of statues commissioned by the British Ministry of Works and sculpted by James Woodford RA. Each one stands six feet tall and was cast in plaster. Each of the ten statues depict the genealogy of The Queen, with each of the heraldic beasts symbolizing the various strands of The Queen’s royal ancestry.

Launched in 2016 the British Queen’s Beast Coin series is an exciting option for those looking to buy silver because it offers a Royal Mint first. The 2 oz bullion coins in this collection, featuring .9999 pure silver content and a face value of £5 (GBP), mark the first-ever release of a 2 oz bullion coin from the Royal Mint. The series is set to feature a total of 10 designs, and each release will include the 2 oz silver coin, as well as a 1 oz and ¼ oz gold option.

The British Silver Queen’s Beast Coins from the Royal Mint are among the first to feature the latest effigy of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, on the obverse face. The designs come from Royal Mint engraver Jody Clark, who at just 33 years old, became the youngest Royal Mint engraver to design an effigy of the Queen for British coinage. This design includes:

• The obverse side of the coin bears the latest depiction of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II in right-profile relief. The Queen’s portrait is accompanied by engravings of her name and the face value in Pound Sterling. This represents the fifth iteration of Her Majesty’s portrait to appear on UK coinage since 1952.

2016 Lion Coin

First up in the release schedule was the 2016 British Queen’s Beast design of the Lion of England, the most prominent and important to Queen Elizabeth II directly. The Barbary lion is the national animal of England. During the Middle Ages, lions kept within the Tower of London were Barbary lions, and English medieval warriors even took on the name of “The Lion” for their bravery in battle. The most famous of these British rulers was Richard I of England, who is known to this day simply as Richard the Lionheart.

2017 Griffin Coin

The Griffin is considered a beneficent creature that signifies courage and strength combined with the virtues of guardianship, vigilance, swiftness, and a keen sense of vision. The Griffin was emblazoned on the private seal of Edward III. King Edward III reigned for 50 years from January 1327 until his death in June 1377, and was known for restoring royal authority following his father’s (Edward II) disastrous reign, and also for establishing the Kingdom of England as one of Europe’s most formidable military powers.

For the second overall release of the series, and the first of 2017, the Royal Mint selected the image of the Griffin of Edward III. With the head, wings, and front paws of an eagle, and the body of a lion, this was said to be the most powerful animal in the world. That power comes from the lion’s status as king of the beasts, and the eagle’s status as king of the birds.

2017 Dragon Coin

Known officially as the Red Dragon of Wales, the dragon itself was originally used by Owen Tudor, grandfather of Henry VII. He was a Welsh courtier and the second husband of Catherine of Valois, the widow of Henry V. Owen descended from a prominent family from Penmynydd in the Isle of Anglesey, and was the grandfather of Henry VII, who founded the Tudor dynasty.

The Red Dragon of Wales includes the coat of arms used by the last native Prince of Wales, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd The dragon’s origin is based upon the story of the dragon on Llewelyn the Last’s castle grounds. Henry VII took on the symbol in a nod to his supposed descent from the Cadwaladr. Now, the Red Dragon design is available as the third overall release in the series, and the second release of the 2017 schedule.

2018 Unicorn Coin

The first release in the 2018 Queen’s Beast Schedule focuses on the Unicorn of Scotland. In 1603, King James VI of Scotland physically merged the crowns of England and Scotland when he ascended to the throne of England following the death of Queen Elizabeth I. The last surviving child of King Henry VIII and final Tudor monarch, Elizabeth I left no children, having never married.

King James VI of Scotland was her closest living relative, the son of her father’s cousin. James VI physically merged the crowns and ruled as James I of England, bringing the Unicorn of Scotland into the heraldic arms of England. To this day, the Unicorn supports the Royal Arms of England alongside the Lion of England.

2018 Black Bull Coin

For the second release of the 2018 Queen’s Beast Series, the Royal Mint of England highlights the first heraldic beast to originate with the House of York. The House of York came to power in England during the Wars of the Roses, with the first Yorkist king, Edward IV, ending for a time the tumultuous reign of King Henry VI of the House of Lancaster. Edward would reign as King of England during two separate time periods, with a one-year gap in his reign where Henry VI returned to the throne from exile in Scotland.

Edward IV claimed the English throne through his great-grandfather, Roger Mortimer, a descendant of the Duke of Clarence. He brought with him to the throne the powerful Black Bull as a heraldic symbol. He also adopted a shield that would prove popular long after his own reign with monarchs from the House of Lancaster and the House of Tudor after him.

2019 Falcon Coin

The first coin to release in the 2019 Queen’s Beast Series highlights one of the most popular heraldic beasts aside from the Lion of England. The House of Plantagenet ruled England for more than 330 years from the reign of Henry II in 1154 to the death of King Richard III at Bosworth Field in 1485.

One of the most powerful and influential monarchs during this period was King Edward III. The Plantagenet ruler enjoyed the second-longest reign during England’s Medieval period, sitting on the throne for 50 years. Edward III brought stability to the crown and reestablished confidence in the monarchy following his father’s disastrous reign. Edward III was most prominently known for his military achievements, including wars with Scotland and France. The latter entanglements in France eventually led to the start of the Hundred Years War with France for control of its throne.

2019 Yale Coin

The second coin issued in the 2019 Queen’s Beast Series, and seventh overall in the collection, features the images of the Yale of Beaufort. The Yale is one of four mythical beasts to feature in the Royal Arms of England and comes from Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of King Henry VII. The latter was the first monarch in the House of Tudor and ended the Wars of the Roses with the defeat of King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth.

The Yale of Beaufort was handed down to Henry VII through his mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, the sole heir of the Duke of Somerset, John Beaufort.

2020 White Lion Coin

The first issue of 2020 and the eighth in the Queen’s Beast Series, the White Lion of Mortimer is another heraldic beast associated with the House of York. The White Lion comes from Anne de Mortimer. Anne was the eldest of the children of Roger Mortimer, 4^th Earl of March and a descendent of Lionel, Duke of Clarence, who was the second surviving son of King Edward III of England. It was Anne’s son, Richard of York who was 3^rd Duke of York, that provided a link to the crown for the White Lion. Richard’s son, Edward, became King Edward IV, first monarch of England from the House of York.

2020 White Horse Coin

In the second release of the 2020 Queen’s Beast Series, the Royal Mint introduces the newest heraldic beast to join the Royal Arms of England. The White Horse of Hanover came to the Royal Arms in 1714 with the ascension to the throne of Elector George of Hanover. George was a grandson of Elizabeth Stuart who was the sister of King Charles I. Upon the death of Anne, Queen of England, the House of Hanover came to control of the throne with the White Horse from the Arms of Hanover subsequently being incorporated into the Royal Arms of England.

2021 White Greyhound Coin

The lone release of 2021 and the final design in the beloved Queen’s Beast Series, the White Greyhound of Richmond comes to the series. The White Greyhound reflects a species of dog prominent throughout northern England. It was used as a badge by John of Gaunt, 1^st Duke of Lancaster, Earl of Richmond, and, most importantly, the third son of King Edward III. The greyhound was used by King Henry IV and later by King Henry VII, founder of the House of Tudor monarch.

British Silver Shengxiao Series

Launched in 2014, the Shengxiao Series from the Royal Mint is an increasingly popular series celebrating the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Each year, the coins in the program feature the new animal in the Zodiac represent a particular year on the lunar calendar.

Coins released to date in the Shengxiao Series include the Year of the Horse, Year of the Goat, and Year of the Monkey Silver coins. All Royal Mint silver coins consist of .999 pure silver, with face values listed in Great British Pounds (£ GBP), and share common obverse imagery of Queen Elizabeth II’s right-profile image. Gold coins from the Royal Mint in this collection feature .9999 fine gold content.

Coins released prior to the 2016 year of issue in this collection feature Ian Rank-Broadley’s 1998 image of the Queen, while post-2016 coins have the new Jody Clark design released in 2015. All reverse designs in the Shengxiao Series from the Royal Mint were designed by British-Chinese artist Wuon-Gean Ho, and each one is completely unique from other lunar coin series produced at other mints around the globe. Currently, Silver.com has the following releases and designs available:

• 2016 British Silver Monkey Coin
• 2017 British Silver Rooster Coin
• 2018 British Silver Dog Coin
• 2019 British Silver Pig Coin
• 2022 British Silver Rat Coin

British Music Legends Series

In 2020, the Royal Mint of England embarked on an exciting new gold and silver collection honoring music legends from Britain. Known as the British Music Legends Series, the collection offers a wide range of gold bullion and proof specimens, as well as silver proof, bullion, and silver-clad specimens. JM Bullion carries the 1/2 oz, 1 oz, and 2 oz silver proof designs as the primary option in each release. Designs available starting in 2020 include (in order):

• Queen
• Elton John
• David Bowie
• The Who
• The Rolling Stones

James Bond Series

Another milestone arrived in 2020 as the James Bond feature film franchise prepares to mark the release of the 25^th official feature film in the collection. Produced by Eon Productions, the release of No Time To Die is celebrated by mints around the globe with collections honoring the past and present of the series. The Royal Mint’s collection includes the following designs:

• Bond, James Bond: The opening design of the series features one of the first supercars used in the James Bond film franchise and comes with an inscription of the famous introductory line Bond characters often use in the films “Bond, James Bond.” The car in the design is in left-profile relief as it drives through the number “0” in “007.”
• Pay Attention 007: In the second release of the series, the Royal Mint features yet another of the cars made famous in the Bond franchise. This one is the Lotus Espirit that became known as the Wet Nellie because it was convertible into a submarine. Depicted on the reverse, the Lotus has its fins extended as it maneuvers silently beneath the waves. Inscriptions include “Pay Attention 007” and include “007” as separate, imposed letters dominating the visual field.

British Royal Arms Series

Introduced in 2019, the British Royal Arms Series is a very deliberate and direct representation of the Crown. The Royal Arms are carried by the monarch of England offer a direct representation of the monarch and the monarchy. The very first official Royal Arms of England was adopted by the second Plantagenet king, King Richard I, in 1198. The Three Lions was the lone Royal Arms until other nations came under the influence or direct control of the kingdom. Over time, elements representing France, Ireland, and Scotland were incorporated into ever-evolving versions of the shield. The modern design, as featured on the reverse of the British Royal Arms Series, includes the following elements:

• At the center of the design is the quartered shield of the Royal Arms with the individual coat of arms of each constituent nation of the modern United Kingdom. These include the Three Lions of England in the first and fourth quadrants, the Lion of Scotland in the second, and the Harp of Ireland (Northern Ireland) in the third. The Unicorn of Scotland supports the shield on the right, while the Lion of England supports it on the left. The shield is topped by the same crown featured on the head of the Lion of England, the State Imperial Crown.

The British Royal Arms Series comes in silver and gold options, with 1 oz and 1/4 oz gold coins available, as well as 1 oz and 10 oz silver coins. The 2019 release featured only 1 oz options in each metal, with the 1/4 oz gold and 10 oz silver coins added in 2020.

Landmark Series

In 2017, the Royal Mint embarked on a program to catalog some of the architectural splendor of the city of London, and the broader English realm. Known as the British Landmark Series, these 1 oz silver coins were released between 2017 and 2019, with one coin each in 2017 and 2019, and a dual release in 2018. The four designs included in this collection represent some of the most globally renowned images and places within England. The designs include the following:

• Big Ben
• Tower Bridge
• Trafalgar Square
• Buckingham Palace

British Valiant Series

Another 2019 debut from the Royal Mint of England is the Valiant Series. One of the historic tales of Medieval England is that of St. George and his battle with a dragon. The story of St. George is not unique to England as it has been told throughout continental Europe from the Medieval Era onward. The story, as a result, does have several variations, but most center on a common story. St. George hears of a kingdom under duress at the hands of an evil, winged dragon. The dragon has demanded a sacrifice in the form of virgin women from the village on a daily basis. In return, he will not destroy the town.

Eventually, the village is down to only the daughter of the king and queen. It is at this moment of crisis that St. George arrives. He promises to ride out and meet the dragon to prevent the death of the princess. He is said to have defeated the dragon by slaying it with his sword. The British Valiant Series captures this with a reverse design of:

• George is mounted on horseback with a spear in his right hand and a shield bearing the Cross of St. Andrew upon it. As his horse rides down the dragon, St. George pierces its neck with the spear and defeats the beast.

The British Silver Valiant Coins are offered as Brilliant Uncirculated specimens with 1 oz silver the first weight offered in the collection, followed by the eventual addition of a 10 oz silver version.

Purchasing British Silver Coins from JM Bullion

If you have any questions about the British silver coins mentioned above, please feel free to ask. JM Bullion customer service is available to assist you at 800-276-6508, online using our live chat, and through our email address. For easy answers to common payment-related questions, please visit our Payment Methods FAQ. We encourage you to contact us if you need further clarification on any payment-related matters.