Wednesday, April 18, 2007

2007 Abolition of the Slave Trade £2 Silver Proof

The British Royal Mint has just announced the strike of the 2007 Abolition of the Slave Trade £2 Silver Proof coin in commemoration of the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade.

Permission was granted to the Royal Mint to strike this limited-edition two-pound coin in sterling silver to impeccable Proof quality. A major turning point in British history occurred with the Abolition Bill of 1807 and this is often considered to be one of the most significant advancements in human dignity hundreds of years.

Each two-pound coin features on its reverse the simple yet powerful design by David Gentleman, RDI. He chose to depict the imagery of chains with one link broken, representing a ‘release from subjection’, which also doubles as the anniversary date of 1807.

The, by now, regulation portrait of the Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley, FRBS appears on the obverse framed by the contrasting outer ring. There is an edge inscription is taken from the anti-slavery seal by Josiah Wedgwood and which reads ‘AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER’.

Beautifully displayed in an elegant presentation case, the silver Proof commemorative two-pound coin is subject to a restricted mintage of just 10,000 in order to satisfy worldwide demand and has been struck in sterling silver with the contrasting outer ring plated with fine gold

Specifications include:
Alloy .925 Sterling Silver
Weight 12 g
Diameter 28.4 mm
Denomination £2
Cost £29.95
Code: UKASTSP

This fantastic 2007 Abolition of the Slave Trade £2 Silver Proof coin is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the Deputy Master of the Royal Mint and the international and historical significance of the commemoration will make this year's two-pound coin highly sought after by collectors around the world.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

2007 Diamond Wedding £5 Silver Proof

The British Royal Mint has struck an absolutely splendid 2007 Diamond Wedding £5 Silver Proof Coin to celebrate the diamond wedding of the Queen.

According to the British Royal Mint, "On 20 November 1947 Princess Elizabeth married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey, bringing much needed cheer to post-war Britain. Now, sixty years later, the Royal Mint has struck an official commemorative crown to celebrate the Diamond Wedding anniversary of the Queen and Prince Philip."

Now two specially created designs grace this sterling silver proof £5 coin, the obverse bearing a conjoint portrait of the royal couple by Ian Rank-Broadley, FRBS, while the reverse features a stunning design by Royal Mint engraver, Emma Noble, inspired by the Abbey’s north rose window.

The edge inscription ‘MY STRENGTH AND STAY’ is taken from the Queen’s Golden Wedding anniversary speech, in which she paid tribute to her husband’s continued support. This 2007 crown piece is one of just five British coins to bear a double portrait and is the only one to be issued in the twenty-first century.

Only 35,000 silver crowns, struck in .925 sterling silver to a meticulous Proof quality, will be available to satisfy worldwide demand.

Featuring a new obverse design and a new reverse design specially created for the 2007 commemorative crown, the double portrait is one of only five to appear on British coins

Each gold crown is presented in a display case, accompanied by a fully illustrated Certificate of Authenticity and costs just £39.50 or about 77 USD.

This is an occasion that virtually never ever comes around and this is the first in British history so this coin, and the coin in gold proof, will be the only ones of their kind in history. This official 2007 Diamond Wedding £5 Silver Proof Crown is going to be the perfect lasting memento of this royal occasion.