Britannia DateStamp™ Silver Sets: sold out in 15 days

Just 15 days since it went on sale, the complete 495 edition of DateStamp™ “958” and “999” Silver Britannia Set has been fully reserved by collectors looking to capture an unprecedented, never-to-be-repeated moment in the history of this most iconic of British coins.

So why so special?

The ‘old’ 958 Britannia last struck at the end of 2012

Here’s the background. For the last quarter of a century, the 1oz Britannia Silver has been struck in, not surprisingly, ‘Britannia Silver’ with a purity of 95.8% silver – or more commonly 958/1000. Out of its total 32.45 gram weight, 31 grams was pure silver (1 troy ounce), the rest an alloy.

New year, new Britannia

Until recently that is. Other silver 1oz classics have always been struck in 999/1000 silver, the trademark standard of silver bullion coins the world over.  Britannia at 958/1000 was the odd one out.

In with the new – from 1st January 2013, the 1oz Britannia is struck for the first time ever in 999/1000 silver

And so, from 1^st January 2013, we waved goodbye to the old ‘958’ Britannia and for the first time ever, welcomed in the new   ‘999’ silver 1oz coin – bringing her in line with the US Eagle and Canadian Maple Leaf but also securing Britannia’s status as Britain’s purest silver coin.

The end of one era – the beginning of another

Specification changes like this one don’t come along very often. And when they do, collectors look for something very special to remember it by.

The limited edition Silver Britannia ‘DateStamp™’ Set pairs up one of the last 2012 strikes of the ‘old’ 958 Britannia with one of the very first brand new 2013 versions minted in the purest 999 silver.

A moment captured in time

To mark this unprecedented change in Britannia’s history,  each of the two ‘DateStamp™’ Set coins is presented in a tamper-proof capsule alongside a gold 1^st class stamp, postmarked on the first or last day of issue – 31^st December 2012 for the ‘958’ coin and 1^st January 2013 for the new ‘999’ coin. The perfect way to capture and preserve a real piece of coinage history.

Also adding extra value, each set also has its own unique serial number guaranteeing its authenticity and limited edition status.

Missed out on owning one of the 495 sets?  Other DateStamp™ coins are available, click here to see the full range.