Since Roman times, Britannia has embodied the values and ideals of the nation she represents, her appearance evolving to reflect the outlook of the era. When The Royal Mint introduced a new bullion coin to the international market in 1987, the powerful and recognisable name of Britannia was adopted. Since then, the Britannia Proof coin from The Royal Mint has become a showcase for modern artists, each bringing their own unique flair to the British icon. For 2017, and the 30th anniversary of the gold coin, we have sought out the best young talent from Britain’s fine art universities to create a truly modern Britannia, choosing multi-disciplinary artist Louis Tamlyn.

The smallest coin in the 2017 Britannia collection is struck in a fortieth of an ounce of 999.9 fine gold, is finished to Proof standard and available in a Limited Edition Presentation of 1,500 coins. In the reverse design, Britannia is the literal embodiment of the island nation, her silhouette defined by the rocky shorelines. The coin also features a celebratory anniversary trident mint mark with the number 30 to commemorate three decades of the gold Britannia coin. Presented in a Royal Mint case, it comes with a booklet that reveals more about the rich history of Britannia and the designer’s inspiration for his modern interpretation.