2023 Silver 1 oz British Royal Arms BU Coin
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2023 Silver Royal Mint Britannia 1 oz BU - Queen
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2022 Silver Great Britain Royal Arms - 10 oz
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2022 Britain Tudor's Beasts Lion 10 oz Silver BU
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2022 Tudor's Beasts Burning Lion 2 oz Silver
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2022 Silver Great Britain Royal Arms - 1 oz
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2022 Britain Tudor's Beasts Lion 2 oz Silver BU
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2022 Great Britain Britannia 1 oz Silver BU
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British silver coins are sovereign-issued silver bullion and commemorative coinage struck by The Royal Mint — the official mint of the United Kingdom. The Royal Mint's origins trace back to the reign of Alfred the Great in 886 AD, making it one of the oldest operating mints in continuous existence. The mint was formally established within the Tower of London in 1279 under King Edward I, relocated to Tower Hill in 1810, and moved to its current purpose-built facility in Llantrisant, South Wales in 1967, where it operates today.
Every British silver coin is legal tender backed by the British government, carries a face value in Pound Sterling (GBP), and bears the portrait of the reigning monarch on the obverse. From 1998 through 2022, coins featured Queen Elizabeth II. Starting in 2022, new issues feature King Charles III, with his official coinage effigy designed by British sculptor Martin Jennings. This monarch transition is the first portrait change on UK coinage in over two decades and marks a significant collector milestone.
Royal Mint Heritage
The Royal Mint has produced coinage continuously for over 1,100 years — longer than any other institution in the world. Its craftsmanship defined the standards modern mints still follow, and its product lines today span gold, silver, and platinum coins plus bars, proof sets, and commemorative issues. BOLD stocks the full Royal Mint silver coin catalog including flagship bullion and limited-mintage collector series.
The Royal Mint produces the broadest portfolio of collector-grade silver bullion coins of any sovereign mint in the world. These are the major active series stocked at BOLD.
Launched 1997 (Proof) / 1998 (Bullion) — Flagship Silver
The Silver Britannia is the Royal Mint's flagship bullion coin. Each 1 oz coin contains .999 fine silver (since 2013; pre-2013 issues were .958 fine Britannia silver), carries a face value of £2 (2 Pounds Sterling), and measures 38.61 mm in diameter. The reverse, designed by Philip Nathan, depicts the iconic figure of Britannia standing firm against a powerful gale with trident and shield — a symbol of British strength on coinage since Roman times. Bullion coins ship in protective flips, tubes of 25, or Monster Boxes of 500 coins (20 tubes per box).
Dealer Insight — The World's Most Secure Sovereign Silver Coin
Starting with the 2021 issue, the Royal Mint integrated four anti-counterfeit features into the Silver Britannia design: surface animation (wave pattern background that moves when tilted), latent image (trident switches to padlock when rotated), tincture lines (micro-engraved heraldic fill patterns), and micro-text (the word "DECUS ET TUTAMEN" inscribed at microscopic scale). No other sovereign silver bullion coin has this level of integrated security technology — the Britannia is effectively counterfeit-proof without specialized industrial equipment.
Launched 2016 — 10-Coin Heraldic Series Completed 2021
The Queen's Beasts Series commemorates the ten heraldic statues that stood guard outside Westminster Abbey during Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 coronation. Each of the ten statues, sculpted by James Woodford RA and cast in plaster, represents a different strand of the Queen's royal ancestry. The series ran from 2016 to 2021 and features the Lion of England, Griffin of Edward III, Red Dragon of Wales, Unicorn of Scotland, Black Bull of Clarence, Falcon of the Plantagenets, Yale of Beaufort, White Lion of Mortimer, White Horse of Hanover, and White Greyhound of Richmond. Silver bullion coins are 2 oz .9999 fine with a £5 face value — the Royal Mint's first-ever 2 oz BU silver bullion coin format.
Dealer Insight — Jody Clark Obverse Portrait
Queen's Beasts silver coins feature the Jody Clark effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. At age 33, Clark became the youngest Royal Mint engraver ever to design an effigy of the Queen for British coinage. His 2015 portrait is the fifth and final design to appear on UK coinage during Elizabeth II's reign. From 2018 onward, Queen's Beasts coins added a guilloche background on the obverse — a braided-ribbon pattern that enhances anti-counterfeiting while adding visual depth.
Launched 2022 — 10-Coin Follow-Up to Queen's Beasts
The Tudor Beasts Series is the Royal Mint's follow-up to the Queen's Beasts, launched in 2022 with the Seymour Panther. Where the Queen's Beasts honored heraldic traditions across 800+ years of British monarchy, the Tudor Beasts focus narrowly on the heraldic creatures of the Tudor Dynasty (1485–1603) — the beasts that lined the bridge into Hampton Court Palace during Henry VIII's reign. The series is planned as 10 coins including the Seymour Panther, Lion of England, Yale of Beaufort, Bull of Clarence, Seymour Unicorn, Tudor Dragon, and more to follow. Silver formats include 2 oz BU (.9999 fine), 10 oz BU (.999 fine), and various proof options with limited mintages as low as 150–300 pieces.
Dealer Insight — King Charles III Obverse Transition
The Tudor Beasts Series spans the monarch transition from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III. 2022 and early 2023 releases featured the Queen's Jody Clark portrait. From 2023 onward, Tudor Beasts coins carry the King Charles III effigy designed by Martin Jennings — making the Tudor Beasts the first major Royal Mint bullion series to feature both monarchs. Early-issue "Queen" portraits and later "King" portraits already trade as distinct collector variants.
Launched 2014 — Royal Mint's Shengxiao Zodiac Series
The Royal Mint's Shengxiao Collection is the UK contribution to the global tradition of lunar zodiac coinage. Launched in 2014 with the Year of the Horse, the series features unique interpretations of each of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals — all designed by British-Chinese artist Wuon-Gean Ho. Unlike Perth Mint or Royal Canadian Mint lunar designs, the Royal Mint's Shengxiao interpretations are distinctly Western in style while honoring Eastern zodiac symbolism. Silver issues are 1 oz .999 fine with a £2 face value. A full 12-coin cycle completes in 2025 with the Year of the Snake.
Themed Collector Series — Myths, Legends & Music Icons
The Royal Mint also produces themed collector series beyond its core bullion lines. Myths & Legends celebrates British folklore with coins honoring Robin Hood, Merlin, Morgan le Fay, and other figures from the Arthurian and medieval English traditions. The British Music Legends Series launched in 2020 and commemorates UK musical icons including Queen, David Bowie, Elton John, The Who, The Rolling Stones, and more — available in silver proof and bullion formats. These series offer deeper thematic collecting paths for fans of British culture alongside the core heraldic and bullion offerings.
Each Royal Mint silver series has distinct specifications, face values, and target audiences. This table captures the core specs for a purchase decision.
| Series | Typical Size | Fineness | Face Value | First Year | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Britannia | 1 oz (also fractional) | .999 | £2 | 1997 | Core stacking, IRA, security features |
| Queen's Beasts | 2 oz BU, 10 oz proof | .9999 | £5 / £10 | 2016 | Heraldic collecting, complete set |
| Tudor Beasts | 2 oz BU, 10 oz proof | .9999 / .999 | £5 / £10 | 2022 | Dynasty history collecting |
| Lunar Shengxiao | 1 oz | .999 | £2 | 2014 | Zodiac collecting, gift coins |
| Myths & Legends | 1 oz, 2 oz | .999 | £2 / £5 | 2021 | British folklore themed |
| Music Legends | 1 oz, 2 oz | .999 | £2 / £5 | 2020 | Music/pop-culture collecting |
Queen Elizabeth II passed on September 8, 2022, ending the longest reign in British history. The Royal Mint transitioned its coinage to King Charles III effigies from late 2022 onward. For collectors, this creates a meaningful variant distinction on active silver series.
| Era | Monarch Portrait | Designer | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third Portrait | Queen Elizabeth II (Raphael Maklouf) | Raphael Maklouf | 1985–1997 |
| Fourth Portrait | Queen Elizabeth II (mature) | Ian Rank-Broadley | 1998–2015 |
| Fifth Portrait | Queen Elizabeth II (final) | Jody Clark | 2015–2022 |
| First King Portrait | King Charles III | Martin Jennings | 2022–present |
Collector Strategy
The 2022 transition year is uniquely significant. Silver Britannias and Tudor Beasts coins from 2022 exist with both portraits — early 2022 releases bear Queen Elizabeth II, while late 2022 issues show King Charles III. Matched "Queen" and "King" 2022 pairs of the same series are increasingly sought after by transition collectors. For set collectors starting fresh, many choose to focus exclusively on King Charles III coins (2023+) for a clean thematic starting point.
British silver occupies a premium position among sovereign silver options. Between unmatched security technology, the deepest collector series portfolio, and 1,100+ years of mint heritage, these are the six structural advantages that make Royal Mint silver a core portfolio holding.
The Silver Britannia competes directly with the American Silver Eagle, Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, and Austrian Silver Philharmonic as the world's most widely-held 1 oz sovereign silver bullion coins. All four are IRA-eligible, all four trade globally, and all four belong in a diversified silver portfolio. This table shows where each fits.
| Feature | Silver Britannia | American Silver Eagle | Silver Maple Leaf | Silver Philharmonic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Royal Mint (886 AD) | U.S. Mint | Royal Canadian Mint | Austrian Mint (1194) |
| Fineness | .999 | .999 | .9999 | .999 |
| First Silver Issue | 1997 | 1986 | 1988 | 2008 |
| Face Value | £2 | $1 USD | $5 CAD | €1.50 |
| Anti-Counterfeit Tech | 4 integrated features | Basic edge reeding | Radial lines, micro-text | Basic design only |
| Typical Retail Premium | Low to moderate | High | Low to moderate | Low |
Royal Mint silver coins are among the most recognized bullion products in the world — which means they attract counterfeiters in the secondary market. BOLD eliminates that risk through direct primary-channel sourcing and rigorous verification on every coin before it enters inventory.
Store Silver Britannias in their original Royal Mint tubes (25 coins) or Monster Boxes (500 coins) to maintain bullion-grade condition for resale. Queen's Beasts and Tudor Beasts 2 oz BU coins ship in protective flips or acrylic tubes — keep them in original packaging to preserve resale value. Proof coins should remain sealed in their original Royal Mint presentation boxes with Certificates of Authenticity intact. Humidity is the primary threat to silver — store all coins in a cool, dry environment.
When you are ready to liquidate, BOLD's Sell to Us program offers competitive buyback prices on all Royal Mint silver. Because these are Royal Mint-issued coins with globally recognized specifications, no assay is required — the mint provenance is your authentication. Buyback completes quickly with payment by check or wire.
Dealer Insight — Keep Proof Presentation Boxes Intact
Royal Mint proof silver coins ship in black presentation boxes with Certificates of Authenticity. These boxes and certificates add significant value at resale — a proof coin with an intact original box and COA can command 10–25% over the same coin without packaging. Never discard Royal Mint boxes or certificates. Store them with the coin for maximum resale value.
This page is the British silver coins hub — it covers the complete Royal Mint silver catalog at BOLD, including Silver Britannias, Queen's Beasts, Tudor Beasts, Lunar, Myths & Legends, and Music Legends series. If you are specifically shopping for Silver Britannias only, including current year, back years, fractional sizes, tubes of 25, and Monster Boxes of 500, the dedicated Silver Britannia page is your direct route.
All British silver coins sold at BOLD are struck by The Royal Mint, the UK's official sovereign mint. The Royal Mint has operated continuously since 886 AD, was formally established in the Tower of London in 1279, and today operates from its purpose-built facility in Llantrisant, South Wales (opened 1967). The Royal Mint produces all UK circulating coinage plus bullion and commemorative coins in gold, silver, and platinum.
The Silver Britannia was first released as a proof coin in 1997 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Gold Britannia (launched 1987). The bullion Silver Britannia followed in 1998. Coins struck between 1998 and 2012 contained .958 fine Britannia silver. Starting in 2013, the Royal Mint upgraded the fineness to .999 pure silver, which remains the current standard. The Silver Britannia is now issued annually with a 1 oz face value of £2.
Yes. All modern Royal Mint silver bullion coins are .999 fine or higher, meeting the IRS minimum fineness requirement for a Precious Metals IRA. Silver Britannia (2013+), Queen's Beasts, Tudor Beasts, and Lunar silver coins all qualify. Pre-2013 Britannias struck in .958 fine do not meet the IRS threshold and are not IRA-eligible.
The 2021+ Silver Britannia includes four integrated security features: surface animation (wave pattern that moves when tilted), latent image (trident switches to padlock when rotated), tincture lines (micro-engraved heraldic fill), and micro-text ("DECUS ET TUTAMEN" inscribed at microscopic scale). These features cannot be replicated without industrial-grade equipment, making the Britannia effectively counterfeit-proof in the retail market.
The Queen's Beasts Series consists of 10 coins released between 2016 and 2021: Lion of England, Griffin of Edward III, Red Dragon of Wales, Unicorn of Scotland, Black Bull of Clarence, Falcon of the Plantagenets, Yale of Beaufort, White Lion of Mortimer, White Horse of Hanover, and White Greyhound of Richmond. Each represents one of the heraldic statues that stood guard outside Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 coronation at Westminster Abbey. A completed set is a significant collector accomplishment.
Queen's Beasts (2016–2021) honors ten heraldic creatures representing Queen Elizabeth II's royal ancestry across 800+ years of British monarchy. Tudor Beasts (2022+) focuses narrowly on the heraldic creatures of the Tudor Dynasty (1485–1603) — specifically the beasts that lined the bridge into Hampton Court Palace during Henry VIII's reign. Tudor Beasts also span the monarch transition, making some 2022 and 2023 issues feature Queen Elizabeth II while later issues feature King Charles III.
Late 2022 / 2023, following Queen Elizabeth II's passing on September 8, 2022. The King Charles III effigy was designed by Martin Jennings and began appearing on Royal Mint bullion coins in late 2022, with broader rollout across all active series through 2023. Many collectors focus on matched "Queen / King" 2022 pairs, or start fresh sets with 2023+ King Charles III coins only.
Yes. BU Silver Britannias ship from the Royal Mint in protective plastic flips (singles), tubes of 25 coins, and Monster Boxes of 500 coins (20 tubes per box). BOLD stocks all three configurations. Monster Boxes carry the tightest per-ounce premium available on Silver Britannias and are preferred for high-volume stackers and IRA allocations.
No. Royal Mint coins require no third-party assay at any reputable dealer — the mint provenance is your authentication. BOLD's Sell to Us program offers competitive, transparent buyback prices on all British silver with no paperwork burden.
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