In July 1987, the Royal Mint was authorised by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II to issue new United Kingdom Britannia £25 Twenty Five Gold Proof Coin struck in solid 22 Carat Gold and weighing one quarter of an ounce of pure Gold.
Named after the symbolic figure of Britannia, who graces the reverse design, the coins are struck in 22 Carat Gold and are available in four denominations: £100 One Hundred Pound, £50 Fifty Pound, £25 Twenty Five Pound and £10 Ten Pound coins. The largest of these coins contains 1oz of fine gold, with the lower denominations containing 1/2 ounce, 1/4 ounce, and 1/10 ounce of fine gold respectively. To commemorate the introduction of these prestigious coins, the Royal Mint is issuing a Limited Issue, Gold Proof, Quarter Ounce Britannia.
Britannia first appeared as a provincial figure on a Roman Imperial Coin of the Emperor Hadrian (117 - 138 AD), although she did not feature on English coins until the copper halfpennies and farthings of Charles II in 1672. Since that time Britannia has continuously appeared on Britain‘s coinage. The latest in a long line of elegant and beautifully design Britannia can be found on the reverse of this Quarter Ounce Gold Proof Coin.
The design, by Philip Nathan, depicts Britannia as a standing figure for only the second time on United Kingdom coinage, the first being the much acclaimed Britannia by George William De Saulles, used on the florins of Edward VII between 1902 and 1910. The obverse of the 1987 Britannia Gold Coin features Raphael Maklouf‘s portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. These legal tender coins have been struck to proof quality using specially prepared dies and highly polished blanks.
Limited Mintage of 3,500 Worldwide
Mark a milestone or great British moment with this year-dated Britannia coin
Finished to Royal Mint's Proof Standard
Struck in 22 Carat Gold Weighing One Quarter of an Ounce of pure Gold
Features Britannia Standing with Trident and Shield by acclaimed artist Philip Nathan
