What Is Silver Britannia?

Collectors of coins and other precious metal commodities will know what silver Britannia is. But the common person who is new to investing in gold or silver may not know what this is. Silver Britannia is a type of silver alloy that contains 95.84 percent silver that is balanced out with copper. It is commonly found in numerous silver items throughout the world and it can be identified by a special mark located somewhere on the piece.

Silver Britannia replaced sterling silver thanks to an Act of Parliament in Great Britain that was introduced in 1697. It was the obligatory standard that was put into place to replace that of ‘wrought plate'. The stamp that was used on these pieces depicted a woman called Britannia that replaced the old lion passant gardant stamp that was used on pieces of sterling silver. In addition to the Britannia stamp, the leopard's head stamp of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths – the main company that produced sterling silver pieces at the time – was replaced with a stamp of a ‘lion's head erased'.

This standard of silver was actually introduced by the government in 1696, a year before it was turned into the obligatory standard. It was part of William III's recoinage scheme, an effort of the government's to keep silver coins from being clipped and then melted down to be used for other silver items. The government felt that if they maintained a higher standard of producing plate people would have less reason to melt down the newly minted coins.

Even though sterling silver was approved for use again by the government in 1720, silver Britannia remained an optional measure of silver assay by the government of the United Kingdom as well as Ireland. However, in 1999, silver Britannia was denoted due to the hallmarking changes released by the government. It is now noted by a millesimal fineness mark of 958, and the Britannia stamp can be added optionally by the producer of the silver item.

Silver bullion coins that are issued by the Royal Mint from 1998 on are also known as Britannia's. They contain the reverse image of the woman known as Britannia on one side of the coin and they are minted in standard silver Britannia alloy. Silver Britannia coin proof sets are very popular among collectors, and only 5,000 of them were released by the British minting authority. These coins were available in £2, £1, 50 pence and 20 pence pieces. They all have crenulated borders and vertical lettering, and the opposite side of the coin features the standard portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

Collectors of rare coins and precious metal appreciate the beauty of the silver Britannia coin sets in addition to the way they accrue value over the years due to the limited production of them. They are a beautiful set of coins, and any collector would love to have them. However, if you are looking for an investment in silver Britannia, these are not the only items that are available that will suit your needs.

Disclaimer
The above article is for information purposes only, and is not advice. Its accuracy cannot be guaranteed and no responsibility for errors or omissions can be accepted by the website owners.

Published On: 26th May 2009 What Is Silver Britannia?

Collectors of coins and other precious metal commodities will know what silver Britannia is. But the common person who is new to investing in gold or silver may not know what this is. Silver Britannia is a type of silver alloy that contains 95.84 percent silver that is balanced out with copper. It is commonly found in numerous silver items throughout the world and it can be identified by a special mark located somewhere on the piece. Silver Britannia replaced sterling silver thanks to an Act of Parliament in Great Britain that was introduced in 1697. It was the obligatory standard that was put into place to replace that of ‘wrought plate'. The stamp that was used on these pieces depicted a woman called Britannia that replaced the old lion passant gardant stamp that was used on pieces of sterling silver. In addition to the Britannia stamp, the leopard's head stamp of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths – the main company that produced sterling silver pieces at the time – was replaced with a stamp of a ‘lion's head erased'. This standard of silver was actually introduced by the government in 1696, a year before it was turned into the obligatory standard. It was part of William III's recoinage scheme, an effort of the government's to keep silver coins from being clipped and then melted down to be used for other silver items. The government felt that if they maintained a higher standard of producing plate people would have less reason to melt down the newly minted coins. Even though sterling silver was approved for use again by the government in 1720, silver Britannia remained an optional measure of silver assay by the government of the United Kingdom as well as Ireland. However, in 1999, silver Britannia was denoted due to the hallmarking changes released by the government. It is now noted by a millesimal fineness mark of 958, and the Britannia stamp can be added optionally by the producer of the silver item. Silver bullion coins that are issued by the Royal Mint from 1998 on are also known as Britannia's. They contain the reverse image of the woman known as Britannia on one side of the coin and they are minted in standard silver Britannia alloy. Silver Britannia coin proof sets are very popular among collectors, and only 5,000 of them were released by the British minting authority. These coins were available in £2, £1, 50 pence and 20 pence pieces. They all have crenulated borders and vertical lettering, and the opposite side of the coin features the standard portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Collectors of rare coins and precious metal appreciate the beauty of the silver Britannia coin sets in addition to the way they accrue value over the years due to the limited production of them. They are a beautiful set of coins, and any collector would love to have them. However, if you are looking for an investment in silver Britannia, these are not the only items that are available that will suit your needs. Disclaimer The above article is for information purposes only, and is not advice. Its accuracy cannot be guaranteed and no responsibility for errors or omissions can be accepted by the website owners. Bullion Supermarket > Bullion Resources > What Is Silver Britannia? More information about precious metals, investments, tips, bullion, bars and coins: Gold Bullion is Timeless Buying Silver Bars For A Sound Investment What Is Silver Britannia? Just Why Are Gold Bullion Coins Such A Good Investment? Want Gold? Buy Krugerrand Coins Gold Coins Are Still A Good Investment Engelhard Is Good If You Want To Buy Silver Bullion Bars A Few Reasons To Buy Gold Handy Hints: Buying Gold Coins and Bars Gold Sovereign Buying The Rising Popularity of Gold Coins Six Reasons to Invest in Silver Bullions Tips to a Secure Way in Buying Gold Six reasons Why You Should Own Gold Bars Understanding Gold Bullion Specifications Krugerrand Gold Bullion: Its History and Design Investing in Silver: Silver Coins & Bars

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