The 1997 date places this piece at the tail end of Raphael Maklouf's effigy, which had been in use since 1985. The following year, Ian Rank-Broadley's fourth portrait took over for circulation coinage, making 1997 the last year this particular obverse combination appeared on a Britannia fractional issue.
The .958 Britannia silver standard — fine enough to exceed sterling — was deliberately chosen to distinguish the bullion series from everyday coinage, reviving an alloy associated with historical English plate silver.
The 1997 date places this piece at the tail end of Raphael Maklouf's effigy, which had been in use since 1985. The following year, Ian Rank-Broadley's fourth portrait took over for circulation coinage, making 1997 the last year this particular obverse combination appeared on a Britannia fractional issue.
The .958 Britannia silver standard — fine enough to exceed sterling — was deliberately chosen to distinguish the bullion series from everyday coinage, reviving an alloy associated with historical English plate silver.