Fun on Friday: Who the Heck Is She?

One day, a kid and his dad were walking along the shore of Battery Park in New York City. Looking out across the water, the kid spies the Statue of Liberty in the distance.

“Hey dad,” the kid says, tugging on his father’s arm with one hand, pointing at the statue with the other. “Is that Nancy Pelosi?”

OK. I made that up. But the British apparently have a problem with identification that isn’t a lot different than that silly little scenario.

It seems confused Brits have a hard time recognizing one of their most iconic heroes. According to an article in the Daily Mail, a quarter of British adults don’t recognize Britannia. This is significant since she has been “the face of the British people” since Roman times.

Research by The Royal Mint has found that the nation has lost touch with one of its most iconic figures and is campaigning to create greater awareness of who Britannia is and what she has stood for through the ages.”

It seems a lot of Brits confuse Brittania with Boedicia, Queen Victoria, Joan of Arc, Queen Elizabeth, and even Margaret Thatcher.

Now, I didn’t really know who the hell Brittania was either until I read about her as we were working on our promotion for silver Brittania bullion coins. (That’s Brittania on the back. Queen Elizabeth adorns the face of the coin.) Then again, I’m not British. So, I think I should get a pass on my ignorance.

On a side-note, I didn’t really know who Boedicia was either. She was a queen of the British Celtic Iceni tribe who led an uprising against the occupying forces of the Roman Empire. She sounds like a bad-ass. I’ve already decided I like her.

But who is Brittania?

Turns out, she’s not real. I find this disappointing.  In my opinion, this makes her significantly less cool than Boedicia.

Anyway, Brittania was a Roman province encompassing parts of the main British island south of Caledonia (roughly Scotland). Brittania came to be personified as a goddess armed with a trident and shield, wearing a Corinthian helmet. She looks like a bad-ass. But she’s not real. So, not so much.

This all raises a question in my mind. Consider that description, and take a look at the statue of Britannia. How in the world does anybody confuse Britannia with Margret Thatcher? Really? I remember the 80s. Maggie never wore a helmet or carried a shield. At least not in public.

So anyway, Britannia is a lot like the Statue of Liberty. She serves as a personified, visual representation of British character, dignity, and history. I can understand why some Brits find it disturbing that so many of their fellow countrymen and women fail to recognize her. It would be like Americans not being able to identify Lady Liberty.

Another side-note: While it’s unlikely that anybody would ever confuse the Statue of Liberty with Nancy Pelosi (well, maybe with that green hue?), a lot of Americans can’t seem to recognize liberty. So, I do have some sympathy for my British cousins across the proverbial pond in that regard.

Anyway, I don’t mean to start waxing philosophical. This is supposed to be fun on Friday!

And what’s more fun than getting an incredible deal on silver bullion coins? Yes. That was a really awkward marketing segue, but in all seriousness, there is still time to take advantage of incredible pricing on 1-ounce Silver Britannia bullion coins minted by the British Royal Mint. These beautiful coins are ready to ship right now for as little as $1.49 over spot per coin. You won’t find a lower premium on a nationally minted silver bullion coin anywhere.

Fun on Friday is a weekly SchiffGold feature. We dig up some of the off-the-wall and off-beat stories relating to precious metals and the economy, and share them with you – with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Click here to read other posts in this series.

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