The Royal Mint is delighted to confirm that the 2012 Britannia Silver Bullion
coin, in honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee for 2012, will feature Philip
Nathan’s original, breathtaking portrait of Britannia on the reverse. This famed
design has been chosen for 2012 to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Philip
Nathan’s design is beautifully complemented by the current portrait of the Queen
by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS on the obverse.
In keeping with tradition that dates back to the late 17th Century, the 2012
£2 Silver Britannia is struck in the Britannia standard of silver 0.958 Ag.
Obverse Design
The obverse of the 2012 Britannia range bears the current
portrait of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.
Reverse Design
The 2012 coin reverse features Philip Nathan’s original,
breathtaking portrait of Britannia framed in the crenallated border peculiar to
Britannia coins.
Britannia; An Enduring Icon of Britain
The figure of a woman, called
Britannia, has long been a symbol of British national pride. She first appeared
on British coins in the seventeenth century and has subsequently graced the
coinage of every monarch to the present day.
She made her debut on the coins of the Romans and has, from Tudor times,
beautifully symbolized an empire based on maritime power. Great and free, she
has fascinated artists and sculptors throughout her history and remains a
favourite icon for British stamps, medals and coins.
In 1696 the Britannia standard of silver was introduced as part of the
recoinage of William III in an attempt to limit the clipping and melting of
sterling silver coins, it being reasoned that there would be little incentive to
melt sterling silver when a higher standard was used for wrought plate.
By the time the Queen came to the throne in 1952, Britannia had assumed the
status of an immortal, having featured on British coinage for almost 300 years.
In 1987 she was elevated to the new gold bullion coinage and today appears on
the highest value coins of the realm. The silver version was launched during
1997.
