Obverse: The centre of the coin features a crowned portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by British sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley. The surrounding inscriptions include “ELIZABETH II”, “D·G·REG·FID·DEF” and the face value “2 POUNDS”. The Latin abbreviation means “By the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith”. The portrait is surrounded by a decorative geometric border.
Reverse: The centre of the coin depicts Britannia, a symbolic female figure representing Great Britain, its strength, independence and national identity. She is shown in profile, wearing an ancient-style helmet adorned with an elaborate feathered crest and draped clothing. The figure of Britannia is covered with a gold-coloured layer, highlighting the fine details of her helmet, hair and garments while contrasting with the silver background of the coin. The surrounding inscriptions read “BRITANNIA” and “ONE OUNCE FINE SILVER”, with the year of issue “2010” displayed at the bottom.
About the coin: The 2010 Great Britain Britannia silver coin belongs to the renowned bullion coin series issued by The Royal Mint. Gold Britannia coins were first introduced in 1987, followed by silver versions in 1997. The personification of Britannia has appeared on British coinage since the 17th century, while its origins date back to the Roman Empire, when Britannia was depicted as a symbolic guardian of the province. The reverse design of the 2010 coin was created by British sculptor Philip Nathan, whose work has become an integral part of Britannia coin history. The coin is struck from .958 fine silver (“Britannia Silver”), contains 1 troy ounce (31.1 g) of pure silver, has a total weight of approximately 32.45 g, a diameter of 40 mm, and a face value of 2 British pounds sterling. The reverse features decorative gilding, creating a striking contrast between gold and silver in the classical depiction of Britannia. Its historic design and distinctive finish enhance the coin's collectible appeal.
