2018 Great Britain 1 oz Gold Britannia BU

Britannia, the female personification of the British Isles, takes her name from an ancient term for Great Britain. Britannia has been a popular figure since the 1st century, when she was first depicted on Roman coinage under the rule of Emperor Hadrian. Illustrated as a goddess, Britannia resembles Boudica, Queen of the British Celtic Iceni tribe who led an uprising against Roman forces in 60AD. Britannia first appeared on British coins in 1672, gracing the farthing during the reign of Charles II. Britannia was a fixture of British coinage from this point on, appearing on pennies issued under every monarch from 1797 until decimalization, when this important national symbol of Britain was moved to the 50 pence coin, where she stayed until 2008.

Over the years, the image of Britannia has altered slightly, with Britain’s maritime dominance being emphasized by trading out her spear for a trident. Britannia is seen as a symbol of British unity, liberty and strength, meaning she resurfaces during particularly challenging times. Just as with Columbia in the U.S. and Marianne in France, the figure of Britannia becomes more visible in times of war or when national pride is booming.

In 1987, Britannia’s image was selected to grace the new Gold bullion coin produced by the Royal Mint, known as the Gold Britannia. These Gold coins have since boomed in popularity both as an investment item and a collector’s piece. Gold Britannias are available in fractional sizes as small as 1/20 oz and as large as 5 oz Gold coins. Over time, both the Gold Britannia and Silver Britannia have experienced changes in design and an increase in metal purity, making them highly desirable in the modern bullion coin market.