After 25 years the Royal Mint has abandoned Britannia Silver as a standard for UK coins.
First introduced under the 1696 Coinage Act to combat the melting down of sterling silver coins, the Royal Mint most recently revived the standard in 1987 for the introduction of the £2 Silver Britannia Coin. As a nod to its design, the Royal Mint opted to strike this coin to the Britannia standard – 958/1000 silver (95.8% pure).
Whilst this made the Silver Britannia Britain’s purest silver coin, it created a problem with its international popularity, as the rest of the world does not recognise this uniquely British silver standard.
For quarter of a century, the Mint continued to maintain the Britannia standard but this year they have finally abandoned it in favour of the more internationally accepted 999/1000 purity, bringing the silver Britannia in line with other 1 ounce silver coins, like the US Eagle, Chinese Panda and Canadian Maple Leaf.
For keen-eyed collector, you will notice the diameter and overall weight of the coin has fractionally reduced as less total metal is required from the new purer alloy to give the coin 1 full troy ounce of pure silver.
So what do you think? Is the loss of a long-held silver quality from the UK’s coinage a sad loss to tradition or should the Royal Mint move with the times and ensure that our nation’s coins remain amongst the most popular the world-over?
We probably guessed Gollum and Gandalf but how many of us predicted that Thorin Oakenshield and Radagast would appear on the new ‘Hobbit’ stamps?
Following their earlier sneak preview of the new Bilbo Baggins stamp, New Zealand Post has now revealed to fans and collectors its complete set of six new ‘Hobbit’ stamps. Issued to coincide with Sir Peter Jackson’s new blockbuster trilogy, the first film “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” is due for release in the UK on 14th December.
The complete set of 6 stamps issued by New Zealand Post
So here’s who else features on the new Middle Earth stamps …
70c Bilbo Baggins – Like all Hobbits, Bilbo Baggins lives a quiet life in the Shire but finds himself on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.
$1.40 Gollum – Once a hobbit-like creature named Sméagol, Gollum’s body and soul have been poisoned by the power of the precious one.
$1.90 Gandalf – One of the most powerful Wizards in all Middle-earth, Gandalf the Grey joins the quest to reclaim Erebor and the great treasure that lies within its stone halls from a fire-breathing dragon, Smaug the Terrible.
$2.10 Thorin Oakenshield – A strong, fearless fighter and respected leader of The Company of Dwarves, Thorin is determined to reclaim his homeland and destroy the beast that brought misery upon his people.
$2.40 Radagast – Forgetful, easily distracted and quite eccentric, Radagast is more comfortable talking to animals than people. A fellow Wizard and friend of Gandalf the Grey, Radagast is one of the guardians of the great forests of Middle-earth.
$2.90 Elrond – Elrond is one of the wisest and most ancient of the Elves remaining in Middle-earth. He is also Master of Rivendell, the Last Homely House East of the Sea.
New Zealand Post is also issuing the only official legal tender commemorative coins from Middle earth.
The second film, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” will follow in December 2013, with the final film, “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” earmarked for release in July, 2014.
A superb range of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” collectables including coins and stamps is now available to buy from The Westminster Collection.
The Royal Mint issued a UK commemorative coin for the Royal Wedding but will they do the same for a royal baby?
This week’s royal baby news has sparked great excitement as the perfect finale to an incredible year. But should the third in line to the British throne have a UK coin issued in his or her honour?
From jubilees and coronations to landmark birthdays and wedding anniversaries, The Royal Mint has a marked the most important moments in the history of our Royal Family with new UK coins. Well most of the time that is …
Never before has a UK coin been issued to celebrate a royal birth. But should the Royal Mint change tradition next summer? Tell us what you think.
Celebrate the royal baby news with a selection of Royal Baby Commemoratives