The iconic, and much loved Britannia proof gold and silver range is back with its 2026 edition, and his time it employs the considerable talents of coin designer, Emily Damstra, who has a huge number of designs to her credit, mainly for the Royal Canadian, and United States Mints. She has a particular talent for nature illustration, including invertebrate prehistoric life, and her portfolio is well worth checking out. Damstra has now undertaken a coin for The Royal Mint, and it just happens to be the iconic Britannia herself.

I’m still down sick, so won’t go over the Britannia story again, but suffice to say, this range has brought some real cracking designs to the fore, especially Jody Clark’s 2014 design, and a designer needs to be on top form to fit in. Emily’s design is a classic interpretation, with Britannia facing out to sea from British shores, rough waves crashing against the cliffs, upon which a lighthouse is sited. She bears all the usual accoutrements, from that iconic helmet, to the trident and shield, the latter emblazoned with the Union Flag. A fine design over all, with the way the waves flow along the shape of the bottom of the coin being particularly pleasing. As always, the obverse is the usual simple effigy of King Charles III. The inscription ‘MAJESTY, JUSTICE AND PEACE’, alludes to Winston Churchill’s 1941 address to US Congress.

An extensive range as always, with silver in one and two ounce forms, and a six-coin set consisting of fractionals (1oz, 1/2oz, 1/4oz, 1/10oz, 1/20oz, 1/40oz). The set launches at £387.50, and is limited to 500 in number. The same set is also available in gold, although at £9,840.00 and capped at 100 units. For solo sizes, you can add a 1/10oz coin at the small end, with a 1kg, and a staggering 3kg coin at the big end. That 3kg coin has a mintage of 1 piece, and will drain the wallet of £460,755.00! Better get saving…