Description
The Gold Britannia is one of the most beautiful coin designs available in the 21st century, but it has been known around the world for more than three centuries. The Britannia appeared regularly on British coinage starting in the 18th century and throughout British colonies in the Far East starting in the 19th century.
The use of an oriental border design on these Gold Britannia’s is inspired by the British Trade Dollar issued by Royal Mint facilities in India and the Far East in the 19th century. Following the First and Second Opium Wars in China, in which the British were victorious, ports in China were forced open by the United Kingdom. To avoid the use of British colonial currency in these port cities, British Trade Dollars were issued that often featured Britannia and included an oriental border design.