• The Royal Mint has today unveiled its 2023 Britannia commemorative collection – the first to bear His Majesty King Charles III’s official portrait.
• This year’s Britannia coin has been designed by Jonathan Olliffe and is inspired by Britannia’s maritime origins.
• The 2023 Britannia coin will be available to buy in collectable sets as well as individually in a range of precious metals.

The Royal Mint, official maker of UK coins, has today launched its annual Britannia coin collection. This is the first opportunity for collectors to own a commemorative Britannia coin bearing His Majesty King Charles III’s official portrait.

This year’s Britannia coin design has been created by Jonathan Olliffe, who previously designed the Gymnastics 50p coin for the 2012 London Olympics. Jonathan’s depiction of Britannia is inspired by her maritime origins. The design features Britannia riding a chariot through the waves, drawn by mighty sea creatures, to symbolise her protecting the nation and its shores. This year’s design is more reminiscent of historic seals and medals, particularly those from the eighteenth-century iconic designs.

The design includes many of the familiar symbols that are associated with Britannia. In this year’s design, Britannia can be seen wearing a Corinthian helmet as well as carrying a trident and a shield decorated with the Union Flag. On closer inspection, a face of a lion can also be seen at the front of the chariot, with the chariot being pulled through the waves by horses that bear the characteristics of aquatic creatures like seahorses, with scales on their bodies and fins in place of manes and hooves.

Jonathan Olliffe, designer of the 2023 Britannia coin design said, “It was my aim to create something authentic and truly original, whilst maintaining a classic style. Philip Nathan’s 1997 Britannia coin design depicts a horse and chariot. I liked the concept of featuring a chariot within the design but in a less predictable way, and I mixed the horse form with a seahorse, and it worked! The serpent fin or tail at the back added an element of the mystical to it. I looked at classical paintings and the anatomy of horses, and sea life imagery.

“These mystical aquatic creatures with suggestions of horse-like anatomy feature heavily in the foreground of the design and maintain a strong and empowering presence as they rise from the ocean waves, adding a sense of depth and structure to the design.”

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services said, “Britannia has a long and enduring history on UK coins and is instantly recognisable among collectors across the world. From her first appearance on Roman coins through to featuring on every coin bearing a British Monarch since the reign of Charles II. The 2023 commemorative Britannia coin celebrates a true icon who’s evolved through the ages on coins produced by The Royal Mint, with this year’s design highlighting her maritime origins and connection.

“We anticipate the 2023 Britannia commemorative coin to be extremely popular among collectors, with it being the first edition in the range to bear His Majesty King Charles III’s official portrait.”

The figure of Britannia first appeared on Roman coins but disappeared with the end of the Roman Empire. Britannia re-emerged in the Elizabethan era but only returned to coins in 1672 during the reign of Charles II. From that time to the present day, she has featured on the coins of every British monarch.

The Britannia 2023 collection is available on a range of precious metal individually and as part of sets. To purchase the 2023 Britannia coin, visit The Royal Mint’s website.

 

ENDS

 

The 2023 Britannia Collection Specifications

 

The Britannia 2023 UK Gold Proof Range
Coin title	The Britannia 2023 UK Five-Ounce Gold Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Two-Ounce Gold Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Quarter-Ounce Gold Proof Coin
Denomination	£500	£200	£25
Issuing Authority	UK	UK	UK
Alloy	999.9 Au Fine Gold	999.9 Au Fine Gold	999.9 Au Fine Gold
Weight	156.30g	62.42g	7.80g
Diameter	50.00mm	40.00mm	22.00mm
Obverse Designer	Martin Jennings
Reverse Designer	Jonathan Olliffe
Quality	Proof
Limited Edition Presentation	65	125	970
RRP	£12,500.00	£5,215.00	£725.00

 

The Britannia 2023 UK Premium Six-Coin Gold Proof Set
Coin title	The Britannia 2023 UK One-Ounce Gold Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Half-Ounce Gold Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Quarter-Ounce Gold Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Tenth-Ounce Gold Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Twentieth-Ounce Gold Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Fortieth-Ounce Gold Proof Coin
Denomination	£100	£50	£25	£10	£1	50p
Issuing Authority	UK	UK	UK	UK	UK	UK
Alloy	999.9 Au Fine Gold	999.9 Au Fine Gold	999.9 Au Fine Gold	999.9 Au Fine Gold	999.9 Au Fine Gold	999.9 Au Fine Gold
Weight	31.21g	15.60g	7.80g	3.13g	1.58g	0.8g
Diameter	32.69mm	27.00mm	22.00mm	16.50mm	12.00mm	8.00mm
Obverse Designer	Martin Jennings
Reverse Designer	Jonathan Olliffe
Quality	Proof
Limited Edition Presentation	175
RRP	£5,035.00

 

The Britannia 2023 UK Premium Three-Coin Gold Proof Set
Coin title	The Britannia 2023 UK Half-Ounce Gold Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Quarter-Ounce Gold Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Tenth-Ounce Gold Proof Coin
Denomination	£50	£25	£10
Issuing Authority	UK	UK	UK
Alloy	999.9 Au Fine Gold	999.9 Au Fine Gold	999.9 Au Fine Gold
Weight	15.60g	7.80g	3.13g
Diameter	27.00mm	22.00mm	16.50mm
Obverse Designer	Martin Jennings
Reverse Designer	Jonathan Olliffe
Quality	Proof
Limited Edition Presentation	150
RRP	£2,230.00

 

The Britannia 2023 UK Fractional Gold Reverse Frosted Set
Coin title	The Britannia 2023 UK Fortieth-Ounce Gold Proof Frosted Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Twentieth-Ounce Gold Proof Frosted Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Quarter-Ounce Gold Proof Frosted Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK One-Ounce Gold Proof Frosted Coin
Denomination	50p	£1	£25	£100
Issuing Authority	UK	UK	UK	UK
Alloy	999.9 Au Fine Gold	999.9 Au Fine Gold	999.9 Au Fine Gold	999.9 Au Fine Gold
Weight	0.8g	1.58g	7.80g	31.21g
Diameter	8.00mm	12.00mm	22.00mm	32.69mm
Obverse Designer	Martin Jennings
Reverse Designer	Jonathan Olliffe
Quality	Proof	Proof	Proof	Proof
Special Features	Reverse Frosted	Reverse Frosted	Reverse Frosted	Reverse Frosted
Limited Edition Presentation	50
RRP	£3,340.00

 

The Britannia 2023 UK Silver Range
Coin title	The Britannia 2023 UK Five-Ounce Silver Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Two Ounce Silver Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK One Ounce Silver Proof Coin
Denomination	£10	£5	£2
Issuing Authority	UK	UK	UK
Alloy	999 Ag Fine Silver	999 Ag Fine Silver	999 Ag Fine Silver
Weight	156.30g	62.86g	31.21g
Diameter	65.00mm	40.00mm	38.61mm
Obverse Designer	Martin Jennings
Reverse Designer	Jonathan Olliffe
Quality	Proof	Proof	Proof
Limited Edition Presentation	420	1,000	3,450
RRP	£480.00	£190.00	£99.50

 

The Britannia 2023 UK Premium Six-Coin Silver Proof Set
Coin title	The Britannia 2023 UK One-Ounce Silver Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Half-Ounce Silver Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Quarter-Ounce Silver Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Tenth-Ounce Silver Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Twentieth-Ounce Silver Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Fortieth-Ounce Silver Proof Coin
Denomination	£2	£1	50p	20p	10p	5p
Issuing Authority	UK	UK	UK	UK	UK	UK
Alloy	999 Ag	999 Ag	999 Ag	999 Ag	999 Ag	999 Ag
Weight	31.21g	15.71g	7.86g	3.15g	1.58g	0.8g
Diameter	38.61mm	27.00mm	22.00mm	16.50mm	12.00mm	8.00mm
Obverse Designer	Martin Jennings
Reverse Designer	Jonathan Olliffe
Quality	Proof
Limited Edition Presentation	950
RRP	£245.00

 

The Britannia 2023 UK Two-Coin Silver Proof Set
Coin title	The Britannia 2023 UK One-Ounce Silver Proof Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK One-Ounce Frosted Silver Proof Coin
Denomination	£2	£2
Issuing Authority	UK	UK
Alloy	999 Ag	999 Ag
Weight	31.21g	31.21g
Diameter	38.61mm	38.61mm
Obverse Designer	Martin Jennings
Reverse Designer	Jonathan Olliffe
Quality	Proof
Limited Edition Presentation	520
RRP	£195.00

 

 

The Britannia 2023 UK Fractional Silver Reverse Frosted Set
Coin title	The Britannia 2023 UK Fortieth-Ounce Silver Proof Frosted Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Twentieth-Ounce Silver Proof Frosted Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK Quarter-Ounce Silver Proof Frosted Coin	The Britannia 2023 UK One-Ounce Silver Proof Frosted Coin
Denomination	5p	10p	50p	£2
Issuing Authority	UK	UK	UK	UK
Alloy	999 Ag	999 Ag	999 Ag	999 Ag
Weight	0.8g	1.58g	7.86g	31.21g
Diameter	8.00mm	12.00mm	22.00mm	38.61mm
Obverse Designer	Martin Jennings
Reverse Designer	Jonathan Olliffe
Quality	Proof	Proof	Proof	Proof
Special Features	Reverse Frosted	Reverse Frosted	Reverse Frosted	Reverse Frosted
Limited Edition Presentation	350
RRP	£165.00

 

 

Coin title	The Britannia 2023 UK 1/4oz Platinum Proof Coin
Denomination	£25
Issuing Authority	UK
Alloy	999.5 Pt
Weight	7.85g
Diameter	20.00mm
Obverse Designer	Martin Jennings
Reverse Designer	Jonathan Olliffe
Quality	Proof
Limited Edition Presentation	200
RRP	£580.00

 

About The Royal Mint

With a history spanning more than 1,100 years, The Royal Mint is Britain’s oldest companies and the original maker of UK coins.  Today The Royal Mint is a premium British maker, providing carefully crafted coins and precious metal products for the UK and overseas.  Based in Llantrisant, South Wales it has three main focuses as a business: Currency, Consumer (collectable and rare, historic coins) and precious metals investment.

Collecting with The Royal Mint:

Every coin tells a story, from a rare gold Sovereign to a Peter Rabbit™ 50p coin. The Royal Mint aims to inspire collectors young and old, and nurture a love of collecting through unique designs and popular themes. As the maker of UK coinage, we have unparalleled knowledge about coins, from the historic coins of our past, through to the collectable commemorative coins of today.  Sourcing and authenticating pre decimal coins is a natural fit for The Royal Mint as we struck each one.

Investing with The Royal Mint:

As a world authority on precious metals, The Royal Mint has traded and made products in gold and silver for centuries. Since launching its designated precious metals investment arm six years ago, The Royal Mint has grown rapidly to become the home of gold in the UK – increasing its market share and becoming the largest producer of bullion coins in Britain. As well as offering physical precious metal investment options in the form of bars and coins, The Royal Mint also offers a range of digital investment options including DigiGold, Little Treasures, designed for children, and Gold for Pensions

Celebrating with The Royal Mint:

For over a thousand years The Royal Mint has marked the moments that changed the world on coins - from coronations to conflict, from commemorations to celebrations. The designs are captured on commemorative coins, minted in a range of metals.  Commemorative coins do not always enter circulation but give collectors the chance to purchase coins to keep and cherish.  Recent themes have included David Bowie, Winnie the Pooh, Decimalisation and Team GB. Each commemorative coin is carefully struck up to three times in order to create a superbly detailed finish, and ensuring each one meets the standards The Royal Mint is famous for. 

The Royal Mint Experience

The Royal Mint opened its popular visitor centre, The Royal Mint Experience, at its home in Llantrisant, South Wales in 2016. Since opening the award-winning attraction has welcomed around 400,000 visitors through its doors and is the place to explore the 1,100-year history of coins.

Images

The Royal Mint retains copyright ownership © of all images. These may only be used for editorial purposes and cannot be sold or used for other marketing purposes without the permission of The Royal Mint.