In July 1987, the Royal Mint was authorised by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II to issue a new United Kingdom Britannia £50 Fifty Pound Gold Proof Coin struck in solid 22 Carat Gold weighing one half 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.
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 Half 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 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 Presentation of 2,486 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 Half of an Ounce of pure Gold
Features Britannia Standing with Trident and Shield by acclaimed artist Philip Nathan
