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Britannia silver is a high-purity silver alloy named after Britain’s female personification. It contains 95.8% silver and 4.2% copper.
It’s softer and purer than sterling silver, making it ideal for intricate jewelry and silverware designs. This silver alloy is non-magnetic, hypoallergenic, and marked with a “958” hallmark.
While historically used for British wrought plate, Britannia silver bullion coins were minted from 1997-2012 but aren’t IRA-approved due to insufficient purity. Since 2013, modern Britannia coins use .999 silver (fine silver) instead.
Despite being softer and more expensive than sterling silver, Britannia silver remains valued for its bright appearance and superior craftsmanship.
What is Britannia Silver (Definition and Meaning)? Why is it Called “Britannia Silver”?
Britannia silver is a silver alloy containing 95.8% silver and 4.2% copper.
The name “Britannia silver” comes from Britannia, a female personification of Britain who’s often depicted as a warrior woman with a trident, shield, and helmet.
Basically, the name “Britannia silver” reflects its association with British heritage and craftsmanship and this silver alloy was historically used as the legal standard for wrought plate in Britain and is still used to this day in some decorative items and coins.
Note: the current purity of Britannia silver is 0.999 fine silver.
In 2013, the Royal Mint transitioned to using 0.999 fine silver for their Britannia bullion coins, meaning that modern Britannia silver bullion coins are made from .999 fine silver, and not from classic Britannia silver (0.958 silver).
This change was made to align with other international sovereign bullion coins (such as the American Silver Eagle and Canadian Maple Leaf).
Hey, being so keenly interested in Britannia silver must mean you like real silver in all shapes and forms, especially in bullion form.
Right?
Are you also a proud American citizen with a keen eye for economy and investing?
This is your next step if you answered yes!
What is the Melt Value of 958 Silver? How Much is it Worth and is it Worth Anything?
The melt value of .958 silver depends on the current silver market price which fluctuates from moment to moment based on the demand/supply interplay.
To determine the worth of your .Britannia item first you need to measure its weight.
Next, multiply the weight by the silver spot price and then by 0.958 (for 95.8% purity) to get the melt value.
For example, let’s say the current price of silver is $7 per gram. And your .958 silver object weighs 31 grams.
The exact worth of that Britannia silver item would be $7 x 31 x 0.958=$207.886
.958 silver is worth much more when sold as collectible items. Some Britannia silver items sell for hundreds of dollars at auctions when their melt value is several time less.
The value there isn’t in the silver content, but in the perceived value of the piece as a whole.
See examples below.
Hey, being so keenly interested in Britannia silver must mean you like real silver in all shapes and forms, especially in bullion form.
Right?
Are you also a proud American citizen with a keen eye for economy and investing?
This is your next step if you answered yes!
Is There Jewelry Made From Britannia Silver?
Yes, there’s jewelry made from Britannia silver.
Britannia silver is an alloy with 95.8% silver and 4.2% copper, making it purer and softer than sterling silver. This higher silver content gives it a brighter, whiter appearance and greater malleability, which allows for intricate designs.
However, higher silver content makes Britannia silver jewelry more expensive, and less resistant to scratching and bending.
See some examples below.
Hey, being so keenly interested in Britannia silver must mean you like real silver in all shapes and forms, especially in bullion form.
Right?
Are you also a proud American citizen with a keen eye for economy and investing?
This is your next step if you answered yes!
Is There Silverware Made From Britannia Silver?
Yes, there’s from Britannia silver. This silver standard was used for premium, durable flatware, cutlery, and, historic, tableware (e.g., mugs, spoons, tazzas).
Britannia Silver is excellent for decorative, high-quality, or antique silverware due to its high luster, white color, and superior tarnish resistance.
However, it’s softer than sterling silver and less practical for frequently used cutlery, as it is more prone to scratching and denting.
Hey, being so keenly interested in Britannia silver must mean you like real silver in all shapes and forms, especially in bullion form.
Right?
Are you also a proud American citizen with a keen eye for economy and investing?
This is your next step if you answered yes!
Is Britannia Silver Magnetic?
No, Britannia silver isn’t magnetic. It’s diamagnetic.
Britannia silver as a silver alloy contains 95.8% silver and 4.2% copper. Pure silver is a diamagnetic precious metal, and copper is a diamagnetic metal too.
Both silver and copper being diamagnetic means Britannia silver is also diamagnetic.
In practical terms this means any coinage, jewelry and cutlery made from Britannia silver won’t magnetize when exposed to a strong magnet.
Note: diamagnetism is a type of magnetism that causes materials to be weakly repelled by a magnetic field.
Is Britannia Silver Hypoallergenic or Allergenic?
Britannia silver isn’t allergenic. It’s hypoallergenic. Meaning most people can wear Britannia silver jewelry, handle Britannia silver coins and use Britannia silver cutlery without issue.
A small percentage of people might still experience a reaction due to the small amount of copper or zinc alloyed with the silver.
However, you’d need to have a strong copper sensitivity to have Britannia silver cause a reaction because this silver alloy has only 4-4.2% of copper in it.
Hey, being so keenly interested in Britannia silver must mean you like real silver in all shapes and forms, especially in bullion form.
Right?
Are you also a proud American citizen with a keen eye for economy and investing?
This is your next step if you answered yes!
What is the Hallmark for Britannia Silver?
The hallmark for Britannia silver is the number “958”, indicating its fineness (95.8% pure silver). The symbol of Britannia, a female figure, is optional and may also be present.
This silver hallmark replaced the older Britannia standard marks, such as the crowned leopard’s head and the Britannia mark (a seated woman).
Here’s an example of older version of Britannia silver hallmarks (a seated figure of Britannia).
Hey, being so keenly interested in Britannia silver must mean you like real silver in all shapes and forms, especially in bullion form.
Right?
Are you also a proud American citizen with a keen eye for economy and investing?
This is your next step if you answered yes!
Is There Bullion Made From Britannia Silver?
Yes, there’s Britannia silver bullion in the form of Silver Britannia coins minted by The Royal Mint between 1997 and 2012.
You can see a full list of these silver coins on Wikipedia, but below are a handful of examples.
Hey, being so keenly interested in Britannia silver must mean you like real silver in all shapes and forms, especially in bullion form.
Right?
Are you also a proud American citizen with a keen eye for economy and investing?
This is your next step if you answered yes!
Are Britannia Silver Coins IRA Approved?
No, Britannia silver coins aren’t IRA-approved.
IRA-eligible silver coins and bars that are IRA-approved must be at least 99.9% pure and these silver coins and bars must also originate from a national government mint or other accredited and government sponsored organizations (COMEX, NYMEX, NYSE/Liffe/CBOT, TOCOM, LME, LBMA, LPPM, and ISO-9000 or a sovereign mint like for example Royal Canadian Mint).
You can buy these coins from a precious metals dealer like Augusta Precious Metals. Augusta is one of the best US-based gold investment company and they can help you open a gold IRA or silver IRA account.
With Augusta Precious Metals you won’t have to worry about the common gold IRA scams that currently plague the precious metal investing market.
Is Britannia Silver the Same Thing as Britannia Metal?
No, Britannia Silver and Britannia Metal are entirely different materials with distinct compositions and uses.
Britannia Silver is a high-quality, 95.8% pure silver alloy used for coins and fine silverware, while Britannia Metal is a type of pewter containing no silver, made primarily of tin, antimony, and copper.
What is Britannia Silver (.958 Silver)? What is its Value and is it Worth Anything? Conclusion
Britannia silver is a silver alloy containing 95.8% silver and 4.2% copper, making it purer and softer than sterling silver (92.5% silver).
Named after Britannia, the female personification of Britain, it was historically used as Britain’s legal standard for wrought plate.
The alloy is non-magnetic (diamagnetic), hypoallergenic, and has a distinctive “958” hallmark indicating its fineness. While Britannia silver bullion coins were minted by The Royal Mint from 1997-2012, they’re not IRA-approved due to insufficient purity.
Since 2013, modern Britannia coins use .999 fine silver instead of the traditional Britannia silver alloy.
References:
- What is Britannia Silver?- https://goldguys.com/what-is-britannia-silver/
- Britannia 958 Silver 20g Pavone Bullion Bar Ingot Pendant on a 20″ Silver Chain- https://www.etsy.com/listing/1797607816/britannia-958-silver-20g-pavone-bullion?show_sold_out_detail
- Copper hypersensitivity-Â https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25098945/
- Britannia metal- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britannia_metal
- 958 silver or something else?- https://www.reddit.com/r/jewelry/comments/1lzutul/958_silver_or_something_else/
- A late Victorian silver bowl,- https://www.bonhams.com/auction/18743/lot/365/a-late-victorian-silver-bowl-by-d-and-j-wellby-london-1897/
- A Victorian Arts and Crafts silver dish- https://www.bonhams.com/auction/25305/lot/10/a-victorian-arts-and-crafts-silver-dish-gilbert-marks-london-1899-britannia-standard-also-signed-gilbert-marks-1899/
- George V Britannia Silver Tea Service Set, 4 Pcs.- https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/221422954_george-v-britannia-silver-tea-service-set-4-pcs-astoria-ny
- Buy a 2003 Britannia One Ounce Silver Bullion Coin- https://britanniacoincompany.com/buy-coins/best-value/2003-britannia-1oz-silver/
- ‘Eternal’ twig necklace- https://www.silversparrowjewellery.co.uk/collections/sterling-silver-necklaces/products/organic-eternal-twig-necklace
- Fine Britannia 958 Silver Bangle Bracelet With Full UK Hallmarks Adjustable handmade bracelet, fine bracelet display hallmarks- https://www.etsy.com/listing/820010442/fine-britannia-958-silver-bangle
- Britannia Standard Silver Canteen of Cutlery for Twelve Persons – Antique Victorian (1887)- https://www.acsilver.co.uk/shop/pc/Britannia-Standard-Silver-Canteen-of-Cutlery-Trefid-Pattern-p18718.htm
- Britannia Standard Silver Cup and Cover – Antique William III- https://www.acsilver.co.uk/shop/pc/Britannia-Standard-Silver-Cup-and-Cover-Antique-William-III-p7657.htm
- Britannia silver is comprised of 95.84% silver and the balance usually made up with copper. It is not quite pure silver!- https://www.chards.co.uk/guides/britannia-silver/395
- Britannia 958 Silver 20g Pavone Bullion Bar Ingot Pendant on a 20″ Silver Chain- https://www.etsy.com/listing/1797607816/britannia-958-silver-20g-pavone-bullion?show_sold_out_detail
- 2001 1oz Silver Britannia Coin- https://www.bullionbypost.co.uk/silver-coins/britannia-silver-coins-958/2001-britannia-silver-1-ounce-coin-pre-owned/
- 2010 1oz Silver Britannia Coin- https://www.bullionbypost.co.uk/silver-coins/britannia-silver-coins-958/2010-britannia-silver-1-ounce-coin-pre-owned/
- 2009 1oz Silver Britannia Coin- https://www.bullionbypost.co.uk/silver-coins/britannia-silver-coins-958/2009-britannia-silver-1-ounce-coin-pre-owned/
Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.
