British Silver Coins

British Silver Coins at BGASC

One of the most well-known mints worldwide is the British Royal Mint. This mint is the home to many popular coin programs that continue to captivate collectors and investors alike. Learn about all of the highly popular British Silver Coins, right here at BGASC.

Background on the Royal Mint

While the exact establishment date is unknown, the Royal Mint is approximately 1,100 years old. The Royal Mint had several branches but by the 1270s they had gradually started to be unified into a single system.

Now, the Royal Mint is headquartered in Llantrisant, South Wales. This location produces all UK coinage including currency, bullion coins, and more.

British Silver Britannia

Arguably the Royal Mint’s most popular product is the British Silver Britannia, which debuted in 1997 on the 10th anniversary of the British Gold Britannia. Coins are produced with 1 Troy oz of actual silver content.

From 1997 to 2012, these coins had a purity of just .958 pure silver. In 2013, the series underwent a few major changes. The purity was upgraded to .999 pure silver. However, the overall size of the coin was shrunken from 32.35 Grams to 31.21 Grams. The diameter of the coin was also affected as it decreased from 40 mm to 38.61 mm.

The obverse of this coin showcases the effigy of the reigning British monarch at the time. In 2023, King Charles III appeared on the obverse which marked the first time in the series that someone other than Queen Elizabeth II was displayed. Designs over the years have featured the following:

• 1997: Raphael Maklouf’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.
• 1998-2015: Ian Rank-Broadley’s rendition of Queen Elizabeth II.
• 2016-2023: Jody Clark’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
• 2023-Present: Martin Jennings’s design of King Charles III.

Notably, the King is seen in left-profile relief. This is the opposite direction in which the Queen is seen in this coin series.

The reverse of these silver coins always displays Britannia who’s seen as the female personification of Britain. While the exact image has changed sporadically over the years, the Phillip Nathan design of Britannia holding her trident, and shield is the most recognizable. This design has been seen on every release since 2012.

In 2021, the series started to include several new and unique security features. These four new features include the following:

• Alternating Images: Latent security feature with alternating images to the lower left of Britannia.
• Micro-Text: Inscriptions reading “Decus Et Tutamen” on the rim between the design of Britannia and the outer field.
• Surface animation: The background of the reverse field has a surface animation that changes depending on what angle you view the coin at.
• Tincture Lines: Tincture lines on the Union Jack flag that Britannia holds.

Queen’s Beasts

During Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation on June 2, 1953, ten heraldic beasts stood guard outside Westminster Abbey. These are commonly known as the Queen’s Beasts. Each Beast stands six feet tall and is cast in plaster. These statues represent the genealogy of Her Majesty.

In 2016, the Royal Mint launched the British Queen’s Beasts Series featuring the beasts on 2 oz silver coins. This series marked the first time the Royal Mint produced a 2 oz silver bullion coin. 10 oz silver coins in this series were struck the following year due to the success of the coin program. Designs include the following:

• 2016 Lion Coin
• 2017 Griffin Coin
• 2017 Dragon Coin
• 2018 Unicorn Coin
• 2018 Black Bull Coin
• 2019 Falcon Coin
• 2019 Yale Coin
• 2020 White Lion Coin
• 2020 White Horse Coin
• 2021 White Greyhound Coin

Tudor Beasts

The Tudor Beasts Series debuted in 2021 offering several proof options as well as a 2 oz silver bullion and a 10 oz silver bullion option. This series of coinage celebrates the heraldic beasts of the House of Tudor.

• Seymour Panther
• Lion of England
• Yale of Beaufort
• Bull of Clarence
• Seymour Unicorn
• Tudor Dragon

As for the obverse design, the first four releases featured Queen Elizabeth II, while all issues of the fifth design feature King Charles II.

• 2022-2023: Jody Clark’s depiction of Queen Elizabeth II.
• 2023-Present: Martin Jennings’s rendition of King Charles III.

Other Popular Options

• Myths and Legends Series: Debuted in 2021 featuring popular myths and legends. The first 3 releases showcased Robin Hood characters, while the next 3 releases featured characters from King Arthur.
• Royal Arms: This series features the iconic Royal Arms design of Eric Sewell, redesigned by Timothy Noad.
• Commemorative coins: The Royal Mint will sporadically release commemorative coins to honor events and anniversaries. One option is the Coronation of the King Coin, showcasing King Charles III with a crown.

Purchasing British Silver Coins at BGASC

For any questions regarding British Silver Coins, call the BGASC team today at 888-992-4272. You can also contact us by sending us an email, or by connecting with us via our online chat feature.