Beginning in 1997, the Royal Mint decided to start a silver version of their gold Britannia series. The Royal Mint only issued proof design silver coins for the inaugural year but decided to incorporate the uncirculated bullion coins the following year. Then, in 1998, the first silver Britannia was minted in the series. Each coin is .999 pure silver, in brilliant uncirculated condition, and comes packaged in a coin flip for protection in transit.