Silver Britannia

A beautiful coin, I just don't like the high premium over spot.

The Silver Britannia coins are indeed beautiful and unique (Britannia silver is not .999). They are very collectible and command a high premium. Would I buy one? Absolutely! Would I stack them? Doubtful. I think there are better bulk silver options at a much lower premium.

http://www.coinworld.com/articles/r...er-for-brit/

Silver and gold Britannia coins are no longer "fine" they way they are, The Royal Mint has decided.

In an effort to compete with other, finer, world bullion coins, Royal Mint officials recently confirmed plans to launch Britannia .999 fine silver and .9999 fine gold coins later this year.

This signals a departure from the historic "Britannia" silver standard of .958 fine, as well as the standard .9167 fine gold in use for British coins for centuries.

The Britannia standard of silver was introduced as part of the recoinage of William III in 1696, in an attempt to limit the clipping and melting of sterling silver coins (sterling is .925 fine).

New coins in November

Beginning in November, collectors and investors will be able to buy 2013 Britannia 1-ounce .999 fine silver bullion coins (which are denominated £2) and Britannia 1-ounce .9999 fine gold bullion coins (which are denominated £100). The reverses of the coins will bear the traditional Philip Nathan design of a standing figure of a graceful Britannia, wind blowing her robes left while she holds a trident. Britannia wears a Corinthian helmet and bears also a shield.

This is without a doubt my favorite bullion series. I am working on getting one of each year. I'm about half way there, with some of the tougher (more expensive) years to go. Great designs, proof-like finishes, and low mintages of only 100,000 or less. I don't mind the lesser purity. I am actually disappointed they are conforming to the other series around the world by changing to .999 and increasing the mintage.

It should have a full ounce in it just not as pure as some other coins. Just like the ASEs have some other metals in them. I've never seen one in person, it may be slightly bigger or thicker but its not so unpure as to just out with the size difference

First class silver, as UK does everything IMO....

Are they not a little OVER one troy oz., which means even not at .999, still an oz. of silver. Just like an American gold eagle?

I may be wrong there....

I have learned that silver is silver. Sure, .925 does not bring that extra 10 percent a .999 piece does, but that is all mental IMO, fickle humans, me included....

A Peace dollar or Morgan is not .715 like 1964 (90%) or earlier quarters, halves, or dimes but .7752. Not .999 but collectors pay about the same as .999 generic on them or WAY more if they are close to un-circ, rare date or mint, or high grade....

So the silver content becomes way irrelevant IMO in those cases mentioned above....

mine are 2000,2001,2002, and 2012 ...
I like the way they change design every next year.

I personally love Britannias. Very interesting news about the Motherland changing the fineness, Star. Like Hawk, I never cared one iota about the purity difference, especially considering the coin has an ASW of 1 oz., regardless.

Just checked the inventory. I actually have 16, one of which is a proof (1998). That's more than I thought. But once they went above $40, I sorta lost interest in them. Up until 2008, I had at least one example of every design, so I'll eventually have to get the one's I'm missing. Maybe in trade, since I have six of Year 2000.