Britannia has been cast as the female personification of Britain for centuries, evolving through the ages to capture the spirit of a nation and its people. First appearing on the coins of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, Britannia has been a continuous presence on British coins since 1672. Today, this icon appears on our flagship Britannia bullion coin. Renowned for its beauty and reliability, this incarnation of Britannia was created by sculptor Philip Nathan in 1987. He presented the ‘queen of the seas’ with carefully chosen symbols of Britain’s identity – a shield for protection, an olive branch for peace and a trident for her maritime links. The award-winning design has become so highly regarded that only The Royal Mint is able to strike genuine Britannia coins featuring Philip Nathan’s interpretation. This modern classic has been struck on the 2023 bullion coin, which contains one kilo of 999 fine silver and depicts Britannia standing boldly amongst the waves.