Following on from the Royal Mint embracing the $ for $ concept popularised in recent years by the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM), they too have decided to expand from the initial £20 mark up into the higher reaches of coin values with an all-new £100 for £100 denominated silver release.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, it basically involves selling a precious metal numismatic collectable coin for its face value, hence £20 for £20, $50 for $50, etc. The beauty of the idea is that the coin will always be worth what you paid for it, even if, as is usually the case, the silver content doesn’t cover the denomination. The bonus comes if the coin turns out to be particularly popular, if the price of silver rises considerably again, or especially a combination of the two means that the coins value may rise above the issue price. In theory, a no-risk numismatic.

The Royal Mint have taken the leap to £100 with a two-ounce silver coin featuring that most British of architectural icons, Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower from the Houses of Parliament in London. It’s a terrific design, looking at the tower from a less traditional angle, expertly framed with tree foliage. Disappointingly, even though it’s a two-ounce lump, the extra weight has gone on thickness and not on diameter where the greater area would have given the design more room to shine. It’s to be expected however, as these have to be usable as currency even if they never will be, plus this mint has a history with Piedfort (double-thickness) coins.

Packaging, as with all these coins is quite simple, though well realised. While we certainly don’t expect the Royal Mint to follow Canada to the heady heights of $200 for $200, it’s worth noting that these coins do actually sell quite well, and if this one if a good seller, we can see the concept becoming a regular fixture and perhaps expanding further (the RCM has $20, $25, $50, $100 and $200 coins). The Daily Mail actually has some good production images of the coin worth checking out. Available now.

MINTS DESCRIPTION

…In this magnificent portrait by Royal Mint engravers Glyn Davies and Laura Clancy you’re transported to street level, gazing upwards from the ground at this architectural marvel with the wide-eyed thrill of a tourist jostling for a view. Looking at the tower from this perspective you strip away the familiarity: there’s a freshness, a new found sense of wonder at this magnificent building and all that is represents. Surely even the most jaded Londoner couldn’t help but be impressed, and remember the very first time they saw this incredible sight.

To visitors, the Elizabeth Tower housing Big Ben is Britain. It’s the image they see time and time again, in films and on news bulletins, and its distinctive sound is part of the very fabric of British life. A battery of rousing chimes could heralds exciting news, begin a happy new year or simply mark the passage of time as each day ticks inevitably by, every reverberation echoing the heartbeat of the nation as we collectively check our watch before carrying on with the day.