Posts by Niamh Watt
Royal Seal of Approval: What is a Great Seal?
What are the Great Seals of the Realm?
Since the reign of Edward the Confessor in the eleventh century, the Great Seals of the Realm have been used in Britain to symbolise the official will and authority of the monarch.
Referred to as the ‘clavis regni,’ or ‘key of government,’ they are such critical tools of state that historically, counterfeiting them was deemed high treason, punishable by death.
Their role has remained virtually unchanged for the past 1,000 years – still used in the twenty-first century as they were in the eleventh. All important state documents have to include a seal as the physical mark of royal ratification.
Every monarch has had their own unique seal – with some even having multiple if they ruled for many years. This is because of the composition of a Great Seal.
And The Royal Mint have brought this historic tradition to life with a brand-new recreation of Henry VIII’s seal. You can secure it now in Proof or Silver quality by clicking here, or read on to learn more…
How a Great Seal is Made
Consisting of a pair of silver moulds, or matrices, into which the monarch’s design has been engraved. Cakes of softened wax or more recently of a plastic compound are placed alongside a set of ribbon or cord in between the matrices and when pressure is applied, an impression of the design is made on both sides. The Great Seal can then be attached to the important state document using the loose end of the ribbons or cord. You can see this in the image below.
Warwickshire County Record Office reference CR341/2
So, from this process you can imagine that during a long reign the silver matrices would become worn until they could no longer be used. Only one Great Seal is to be in use at a time, therefore the old one is ceremonially defaced and presented by the monarch to the Lord Chancellor.
Interesting Fact
During the 63-year reign of Queen Victoria, four Great Seals were created.
What was the Lord Chancellor’s role?
Traditionally, the Lord Chancellor has been the custodian of the Great Seal. This is because the office originated as secretary to the Monarch, responsible for supervising, preparing and dispatching the Monarchs letters. This meant that they had the use of the Sovereign’s seal, which soon became the symbol of the office.
Each Great Seal is kept in a richly decorated purse, and it was customary to present a new purse each year.
Interesting Fact
Lord Eldon, during the early nineteenth century, received so many of the elaborately decorated purses that his wife was able to turn them into bed hangings.
How the Great Seal has adapted to modern times
Due to the expansion of the UK government’s dealings over time, the amount of wax used to make the Great Seals each month reached a peak of 50 kilogrammes. This resulted in The Crown Office Act of 1887. The act declared that many of the documents once passed under the seal would now be ratified with a new device called the Wafer Seal.
This device has the obverse design of the Great Seal and makes an impression on paper, which can be on the document itself or on a separate wafer. The traditional version of the Great Seal made of wax or plastic compound is now reserved for documents deemed to be of the utmost importance such as treaties with foreign governments.
Interesting Fact
Queen Elizabeth II had two seals during her reign – the first came into service in 1953 and lasted all the way to 2001, when the new seal was produced.
Royal Mint Release
The Great Seals fascinating history is incredibly tied with our monarchy and democracy – a true representation of our constitutional monarchy.
The brand-new Royal Mint release is a stunning embodiment of this century old tradition.
Remastered from specimens held in The Royal Mint Museum’s collection, you have the opportunity to own a high-quality recreation of Henry VIII’s Great Seal. One of the most notorious monarchs in British history.
The official Royal Mint packaging ties in perfectly, with the ‘cords’ featured that are involved in the production and attaching of the Great Seal to the state document – as well as exploring Henry VIII’s unique royal seal and its historical significance.
Click here to explore the range today >>
Royal Celebration: King Charles III 75th Birthday Range Released
This year, on the 14th of November, His Majesty King Charles III will celebrate his 75th birthday. This will be the first time a reigning British King has celebrated his 75th birthday in over 200 years.
Royal birthdays have held a significant place in the hearts of collectors for generations.
In a gesture to match the grandeur of the occasion – especially for collectors – a stunning coin range has been unveiled to mark the 75th birthday of King Charles III. This exquisite collection perfectly captures the essence of His Majesty in meticulous detail.
Continue reading below to explore the beautiful designs in all their glory.
Brand-new: King Charles III 75th Birthday Silver Proof £5
A prestigious piece of royal history, this brand-new £5 coin has been struck to the historic Crown specifications.
This remarkable release is strictly limited to JUST 995 collectors WORLDWIDE.
Secure your own King Charles III 75th Silver Proof £5 by clicking here >>>
Own the coin fit for a King: His Majesty’s 75th Birthday Silver 5oz
This is the coin that’s being gifted to King Charles III for his 75th birthday – you read that correctly!
Issued by Guernsey, this stunning coin is struck from 5oz of Pure Silver with selective 24 Carat Gold plating. Only 174 out of the total 175 edition limit have been made available for collectors, as number one has already been reserved for His Majesty.
Click here to own this impressive silver tribute to His Majesty King Charles III >>>
Mark this historic milestone with the Gold Proof £5
The one-year-only design on the Gold Proof £5 has been fully approved by Buckingham Palace – with a strict edition limit of JUST 30.
Struck from solid Gold, the pristine Proof finish really showcases the specially commissioned design, featuring cruciform shields with symbols representing His Majesty’s life – including the fleet Air Arm badge honouring His Majesty’s service as a helicopter pilot in the Royal Navy.
Click here to secure your own exclusive Gold Proof £5 – ONLY 30 available! >>>
A true work of art: King Charles III 75th Birthday Artist’s Set
Issued to mark the first time in over two centuries that a reigning British King has reached the age of 75. The King Charles III 75th Birthday Artist’s Set truly rises to this historic occasion.
It features an official ‘Note from the Artist’ signed by the reverse designer – Mike Guilfoyle, where he gives a fascinating insight into his creative process and inspiration.
Only 200 of these historic sets will ever exist – so only a select number of collectors will be able to own this exclusive set.
Click here to own one of these specially curated sets >>>
The ultimate King Charles III 75th Birthday issue: Proof £5 coin cover
The perfect way to mark the historic occasion, this exclusive release includes a £5 Proof coin alongside His Majesty’s Coronation stamps, hand-stamped on his 75th birthday – the 14th of November 2023.
This makes it a true collector’s dream, as once all the covers have been allocated, they will never be available again.
Click here to secure yours before the strict edition of JUST 495 is gone >>>
This really is a collection fit for a king – but there are even more brand-new releases to see, delve into the rest of the exclusive collection by clicking the link below!
Click here to explore the full King Charles III 75th Birthday Range >>>
Crafting History: the Royal British Legion’s 2023 Silver Masterpiece
Remembrance Sunday is an important time for the nation to honour the valour, sacrifice, and enduring spirit of all those who have served. Now as tribute, a remarkable Masterpiece has been released…
Introducing the Royal British Legion’s 2023 Masterpiece Silver 5oz Coin
Click the black dots on the image above to learn about each of the key features of this year’s masterpiece – and then continue reading below to get the full story!
Let’s journey through the truly unique features of this brand new ‘Masterpiece’.
At the heart of this stunning coin lies a tangible connection to one of the most iconic events of World War II – the Dambusters Raid. This year marked the 80th anniversary of the raid.
Let me explain. At the centre of the coin, you can see there is a Lancaster aircraft. This feature has been crafted with the metal from the starboard outer engine housing of Avro Lancaster PA474 – the same type of aircraft that participated in the historic mission!
This bridges the gap between past and present, allowing us to hold a piece of history in our hands.
The artwork on the coin showcases a powerful scene – a Lancaster dropping the two petal Poppy® over The Mall – this touching image is inspired by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s tradition of dropping poppies to commemorate those who lost their lives fighting for our freedom. The scene pays tribute to the sacrifices of those that have fallen.
The original piece of Lancaster included in the Masterpiece is from the exact same plane that has participated in this symbolic act of Remembrance by the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Struck from pure Silver the ‘Masterpiece’ design is completed with the Lancaster being flanked by a Spitfire and a Hurricane – two legendary aircraft that played pivotal roles in defending the skies during WWII – representing the courage of the pilots who used them to fight for our freedom.
Look closely, and you’ll discover another layer of significance in the coin’s design. In the background, Buckingham Palace is also featured on the map. This stands as a poignant reminder of Royalty’s role in difficult times for the nation – as well as a nod to the significant year the Royal family has had.
Click the video below to see the unboxing of the Masterpiece.
A donation to the Royal British Legion
The 2023 Masterpiece Silver Coin holds an opportunity for anyone passionate about helping veterans, to contribute to a noble cause. With each purchase – 10% of the sale will be donated to the Royal British Legion. This gesture not only enriches the value of the coin but also helps to ensure that the legacy of those who have served lives on through meaningful initiatives.
ONLY 250 AVAILABLE – secure yours while you can!
Each coin in this limited-edition release is accompanied by an individually numbered certificate – so you know which number you have secured out of the tiny worldwide edition limit of 250.
But that’s not all – the coin also comes with an informational booklet that delves into the historical significance of each design element.
From the inclusion of an actual Lancaster plane fragment to the poignant artwork of aircraft, two petal Poppy, and royalty, every detail has been meticulously crafted to honour the sacrifices made by those who came before us.
By securing this coin, you not only possess a piece of history but also contribute to the Royal British Legion’s vital work in supporting today’s Armed Forces community.
As of this year, The Westminster Collection has raised a remarkable £1.25 million for the Royal British Legion through the creation of Remembrance and Poppy-themed coins – click here to read more about where your donations go >>
We have plenty more fantastic coins and commemoratives issued in support of the Royal British Legion just like today’s new release so…
Click here for the range of 2023 Remembrance Poppy coins issued in support of the Royal British Legion >>
10% from the sale of this product will be paid to The Royal British Legion Trading Limited, which gives its taxable profits to The Royal British Legion (charity no. 219279) or Poppyscotland (Scottish charity SC014096).