The Portrait of Britain Collection

[box]英國皇家鑄幣局全新項目，以水彩彩繪手法展現英倫地標大笨鐘，白金漢宮，倫敦塔橋和特拉法加廣場。銀幣由為 Laura Clancy 及 Glyn Davies 設計，他們的設計有一種寫意的感覺，以遊客的視野，模糊的筆觸，描繪當時的天氣，人群和位置。用上三色移印技術，突出主體的線條及立體感，同時所用的顏色令人感受到倫敦的潮濕天氣。 套裝附有一本小冊子揭示了每個地標背後的故事，也紀錄了設計師的設計靈感，喜愛英國文化的朋友要密切留意啊。[/box]

The Royal Mint is proud to introduce the Portrait of Britain Collection, celebrating four world-renowned British landmarks on four eye-catching, crown-sized, silver £5 coins. The intricate details of each design have been highlighted with The Royal Mint’s premier Proof finish, whilst trichromatic colour-printing gives the coin designs an impressionist quality. Unlike other mementoes or souvenirs of the nation, the coins in this set are official United Kingdom coins.

The Royal Mint engravers Laura Clancy and Glyn Davies have captured the spirit of four instantly-recognisable British landmarks – Elizabeth Tower, housing Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and Trafalgar Square. In their designs, each British icon is viewed as though through the eyes of a visitor, seen through passing crowds or rain showers, giving the coins the feel of an impressionist painting.

Glyn Davies, The Royal Mint engraver said: “We visited the landmarks in London, and it struck us that it’s never possible to get an uninterrupted view of them without being obscured in some way by the weather, other tourists or even their location. On returning we drew up compositions and added a wash of watercolour.”

The Royal Mint engraver Laura Clancy continued: “Our coins are not a literal representation but express the transient effects of light and colour on a location.  Throughout the process, we have been aiming for an impression of the subject, a moment in time – the modelling to convey the place, the colour and treatment of the metal to convey time and mood.”

The four-coin set is presented in a stylish Royal Mint presentation case, complemented by a booklet that tells the fascinating story behind each iconic subject. A certificate of authenticity completes the set to confirm it is one of only 3,500 available. All four coins bear the obverse portrait of Her Majesty The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS – so fitting for a set that also features Buckingham Palace, her official London residence.