Please note that these coins may have spotting present on the silver as a result of the age of these specimens.
The 2014 1/4 oz Silver SS Gairsoppa British Britannia Coins have been minted with real silver that was recovered from the S.S. Gairsoppa Shipwreck. Each coin is minted with refined .999 pure silver and weighs a total of 1/4 troy ounce. Minted by the Royal Mint, each coin also has a 50 Pence face value.
Britain is one of the oldest nations in the world, and it has a rich history that is full of glory and sorrow. The image of Britannia has been shown on coins for hundreds of years and has a history that dates back to a time when the Roman Empire ruled the island nation. The very first coin showcasing Britannia is believed to have been produced during the first century A.D. It reappeared in 1672 as a farthing and has been used by every British monarch since then as official coinage. The 2014 1/4 oz SS Gairsoppa Silver Britannia continues the tradition of this coin, while paying homage to the strife the nation endured during World War II.
The term “Britannia” was originally coined by the Roman overlords of Britain as a personification of the country itself. Since the second century A.D., the term Britannia has been used more frequently to refer to the goddess of the sea. The image of Britannia has remained on coins for years, though her exact imagery has changed with time.
What makes the 2014 1/4 oz SS Gairsoppa Britannia Silver Coin unique is the engraving around the outer edge of the coin. While the obverse and reverse sides of the Britannia remain unchanged, the outer edge bears the engraving “SS Gairsoppa.” In 1941, the SS Gairsoppa was dispatched to Britain’s Royal Mint with a cargo of silver that was to be minted into official coinage during World War II. The ship was torpedoed that year, carrying its precious cargo down to the depths. The SS Gairsoppa was discovered under 3 miles of icy water in 2011, and now its cargo has been recovered and used to mint coins in its honor.
The 2014 1/4 oz SS Gairsoppa Britannia Silver Coin features the image of Britannia on the reverse side of the coin. She is seen standing guard over the British Isles with her shield in her left hand and her trident in her right hand. Around her image are engravings bearing the weight, metal content, purity, and year of minting, as well as the name “Britannia.” The obverse side of the coin features the iconic right-profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II as designed by Ian Rank-Broadley. His image of Queen Elizabeth II is surrounded by the engravings of her name, the coin’s face value (50 pence), and the phrase “Reg’Fid’Def’.”
If you have any questions about the 2014 1/4 oz Silver SS Gairsoppa British Britannia Coins, please call Silver.com at 1-888-989-7223. Feel free to reach us through our website’s live chat feature or through email as well. Make sure you check out our full selection of Shipwreck Silver for more items minted with silver from the S.S. Gairsoppa Shipwreck.
