The Britannia Designs

[Peckris 579]

This is my favourite Britannia design.

Where's the olive branch?

Made of the same substance as her clothes, silly

This is my favourite Britannia design.

I have zero knowledge with copper coins. Is this a token of some kind or an official pattern?

It's a pattern - from the Soho Mint, listed in Peck. How 'official' it was, I don't know. Does anyone? Rob?

[Rob 3,106]

Soho was a private mint, Taylor had a private business. Neither were official RM offshoots, though Soho got the contract for the 1797, 1799 & 1806 coinages and so achieved 'official' status. To my mind they are equally valid from a collecting point of view. The nude Britannia was acquired by Taylor in the un-hardened state, so was never a Soho piece even though the die was sunk there.

The patterns were made by Soho mint to tout for business by demonstrating their abilities, both to the British government and foreign ones. Although private, there is little difference between these and an RM trial product. Ultimately a design will be chosen by the committee responsible and the rest will be consigned to the might have been pile.

Edited January 26, 2014 by Rob

[Rob 3,106]

Another example of the wardrobe malfunction posted by Peck. A bit less flat-chested than Rob's!

That's because it is a full d rather than half a d

[Sword 1,380]

Soho was a private mint, Taylor had a private business. Neither were official RM offshoots, though Soho got the contract for the 1797, 1799 & 1806 coinages and so achieved 'official' status. To my mind they are equally valid from a collecting point of view. The nude Britannia was acquired by Taylor in the un-hardened state, so was never a Soho piece even though the die was sunk there.

Thanks for the info Rob. A nude Britannia must have been controversial at the time and the artist was very brave. Since it is probably very rare and sex sells, I guess it must be exceedingly expensive today. (Just guessing as I don't collect bronze)

[Rob 3,106]

Soho was a private mint, Taylor had a private business. Neither were official RM offshoots, though Soho got the contract for the 1797, 1799 & 1806 coinages and so achieved 'official' status. To my mind they are equally valid from a collecting point of view. The nude Britannia was acquired by Taylor in the un-hardened state, so was never a Soho piece even though the die was sunk there.

Thanks for the info Rob. A nude Britannia must have been controversial at the time and the artist was very brave. Since it is probably very rare and sex sells, I guess it must be exceedingly expensive today. (Just guessing as I don't collect bronze)

The nude Britannia would have been prepared in the first few decades of the 19th century when hedonism and generally excessive indulgence was in favour. It's possible that the die was never used at Soho due to the rising supremacy of a more restrained culture as a backlash following the demise of George IV. Taylor produced these some time after 1862, by which time 'not amused'ment was de rigeur, so I can easily imagine the design being un-PC. However, sex does sell, so they are popular today just as they are likely to have been 130-150 years ago.

FYI sex is expensive today. Oops. And the coins aren't cheap either. Four figures is a typical price for them (nude Britannias).

Edited January 26, 2014 by Rob

[VickySilver 813]

Eddie's Britannia on the florin looks rather mean and not very feminine though the flowing robes are nice...

Nice coins there Rob and AC.

[Nicholas 51]

I know I know just another 2pence.

<a href="http://s1322.photobucket.com/user/2tearsinabucket1/media/image_zps02e6325c.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u567/2tearsinabucket1/image_zps02e6325c.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo image_zps02e6325c.jpg"/></a>

[Peckris 579]

Another example of the wardrobe malfunction posted by Peck. A bit less flat-chested than Rob's!

That's because it is a full d rather than half a d

Surely, you mean a full D rather than a B ???

[davidrj 194]

Brittania recast - Thai style

2 Att for Siam 1890 (this year Minted by Heaton)

King Rama V (the King from the King and I) was a moderniser and Anglophile, and an admirer of our bronze pennies

[Rob 3,106]

Another example of the wardrobe malfunction posted by Peck. A bit less flat-chested than Rob's!

That's because it is a full d rather than half a d

Surely, you mean a full D rather than a B ???

No. Accumulator's is a 1d, mine is only a 1/2d.

[Peckris 579]

Another example of the wardrobe malfunction posted by Peck. A bit less flat-chested than Rob's!

That's because it is a full d rather than half a d

Surely, you mean a full D rather than a B ???

No. Accumulator's is a 1d, mine is only a 1/2d.

Perhaps if I'd said DD, the joke wouldn't have fallen 'flat'?