a female figure representing Britain, formerly shown on some coins. Britannia is usually shown sitting down, wearing a helmet, and holding a trident (=an ancient weapon with three points, which looks like a large fork) . Next to her feet she has a shield with the design of the British flag on it. There is a popular national song called Rule Britannia
{i} United Kingdom (Britain and Northern Ireland); Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales); ancient Roman name for the island of Great Britain
British gold coin containing one ounce of gold with a nominal value of £100 Britannia coins of 1/2, 1/4 and 1/10 of an ounce of gold are also minted
The first known representation of Britannia as a female figure sitting on a globe, leaning with one arm on a shield, and grasping a spear in the other hand, is on a Roman coin of Antoninus Pius, who died A D 161 The figure reappeared on our copper coin in the reign of Charles II , 1665, and the model was Miss Stewart, afterwards created Duchess of Richmond The engraver was Philip Roetier, 1665 In 1825 W Wyon made a new design The King's new medall, where, in little, there is Mrs Stewart's face, and a pretty thing it is, that he should choose her face to represent Britannia by,- Pepys' Diary (25 Feb )
a song about the power Britain used to have at sea because of its navy, which people sing on patriotic occasions, such as the Last Night of the Proms. Some of the words are: Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the waves,/Britons never, never, never shall be slaves