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BRITANNIA

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

MrDaff

MrDaff Report 27 Jan 2008 12:21

lol Jean... it's just me being nosey.. and if I am going to sign Ann's petition I need to know what I am signing up for!!
lol David.... I got all about Caradoc and Gelert, and Owain Glyndwr!!

Love

Daff xxx

Jean Durant

Jean Durant Report 27 Jan 2008 12:14

Daff... thank you so much for taking the trouble to do what I was too lazy to lol.

When you look into things it is fascinating the information you can turn up.

I am truly impressed and think there is even more reason for us to keep Britannia on our coins.

Jean x.

Uggers

Uggers Report 27 Jan 2008 12:14

No offence taken, Daff - I should have put a smile on that other post somewhere:) I did a project on Britannia at school:))

MrDaff

MrDaff Report 27 Jan 2008 12:11

Lol David.. I know you were...... but you did have a really interesting point that made my brain cells kick into gear... I actually went to try and find out WHY they changed it to Britannia 300 years ago... still haven't found out.. I had a vague memory (grey cells leaking, lol) but was very surprised to find what I did...

No offense was meant, truly!... I was quite childishly pleased to have that info... am still none the wiser where 300 years ago is concerned, but I will keep looking, cos it has fascinated me!

Love

Daff xxx

Uggers

Uggers Report 27 Jan 2008 12:05

I was being tongue in cheek, Daff. As I said, I think it's a shame.

MrDaff

MrDaff Report 27 Jan 2008 11:46

lol David, but I just googled it... I had a vague glimmering memory of boring history lessons long ago.... so dear old Wiki provided me with this...

*The Romans originally described the group of islands off north-west Europe as the Britanniae, consisting of Albion (Britain), Hibernia (Ireland) and many smaller islands. Over time, Albion came to be known as Britannia, and the name for the group was subsequently dropped. The island was first invaded by Julius Caesar in 55 BC. At the height of Roman Britain, the Empire included most of the island of Great Britain. The Romans built Hadrian's Wall close to today's border between England and Scotland. The province was named Britannia, and the unincorporated area of northern Britain was called Caledonia. A southern part of what is now known as Scotland was occupied by the Romans for about 20 years in the mid-second century AD, keeping in place the Picts to the north of the Antonine Wall. The Romans never completely occupied the island of Great Britain, and the Celtic tribes even prevented full consolidation of the southwest. People living in the Roman province of Britannia were called Britanni. Ireland was never conquered and was called Hibernia.

There was a celtic goddess called Brigid who is one of the many sources of the personification of Britain. The Emperor Claudius paid a visit while Britain was being conquered and was honoured with the agnomen Britannicus as if he were the conqueror, but Britannia remained a place, not a female personification of the land, until she appeared on coins issued under Hadrian,[1] which introduced a female figure labelled BRITANNIA.

Britannia was soon personified as a goddess. Early portraits of the goddess depict Britannia as a beautiful young woman, wearing the helmet of a Centurion, and wrapped in a white garment with her right breast exposed. She is usually shown seated on a rock, holding a spear, and with a spiked shield propped beside her. Sometimes she holds a standard and leans on the shield. On another range of coinage, she is seated on a globe above waves: Britain at the edge of the 'known' world. Similar coin types were also issued under Antoninus Pius.

Modern historians have noted similarities Britannia has in appearance to Boudicca. Both are usually depicted with shields and wearing long dresses, and the physiognomy of both female figures in early depictions is remarkably similar.*

So there was a coin used in Britain, with Britannia on it, well before 300 years ago... so maybe the new introduction 300 years ago was spurred on by people who were the traditionalists of their day, and rather fed up with king's heads on the coinage.... Britannia is so much better looking, I think, lol..... yet another perspective!!

Love

Daff xxx

ChrisofWessex

ChrisofWessex Report 27 Jan 2008 11:22

Why - who does this symbol of ours upset now? I am tired of it all. Our heritage and rights are disappearing fast down the swanee.

Harry

Harry Report 27 Jan 2008 10:53

Where was the demand for a change? How much will it cost?
Will it improve anything?

An old penny for your thoughts ( does anyone remember what the rude name for the (Victorian?)penny was , with Britannia having her trident apparently pointing indelicately......)
Change, for changes sake in my opinion.

Happy days

Uggers

Uggers Report 27 Jan 2008 10:32

lol Jean - everything has another perspective doesn't it;)

Jean Durant

Jean Durant Report 27 Jan 2008 10:27

Trust you David:)

~~~~~~~~~to everyone~~~~~~~~

and tells Colin of course I meant him :)

x

Uggers

Uggers Report 27 Jan 2008 10:22

Well it's a shame:( I wonder if everyone was up in arms when Britannia was introduced 300 years ago and replaced something else:)

MrDaff

MrDaff Report 27 Jan 2008 10:20

Morning Jean, morning everyone,

Britannia for me too...

I get so cross when our traditions are despoiled and desecrated in this way... there are enough*new* things that could start new traditions of their own... how dare they mess with our long standing ones.

*gets pen ready to sign Ann's petition*

Love

Daff xxx

Shelli4

Shelli4 Report 27 Jan 2008 10:16

Jean

Just dug out the 50p I'm saving for the kids...currently have 19.
They commemerate(sp?)

100th anniversary of the Scout Movement

150th anniversary of the Victoria Cross.

250th anniversary of the publication of Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language

50th anniversary of the first sub-four-minute mile

Centenary of the Women's Social and Political Union

150th anniversary of the Public Libraries Act of 1850.
50th anniversary of the National Health Service.

Also while looking up the meanings came across some on ebay... going for double value.... and wikepedia where i got my info from states some of my coins are rarely found in circulation... so guess I'm not the only one saving them!!LOL

AnnCardiff

AnnCardiff Report 27 Jan 2008 10:14

I think it is appalling - very soon we'll have absolutely nothing left of our heritage - who was the bright spark who came up with this idea? I'd very much like to know and what gives him/her the right to make such sweeping changes - it is OUR currency - it seems to be getting like one of the African dictatorships lately - things being forced on us that clearly we do not want - I'll have a look at the Government petitions website and see if there's a petition running - bet there is - if not, I'll start one - so there!!!!

Staffs Col

Staffs Col Report 27 Jan 2008 09:57

Jean it me, I'm the youngster have to own up to it....go on tell me its me whos the youngster

Shelli4

Shelli4 Report 27 Jan 2008 09:44

well that mucks up my savingplans LOL

I save the 50p with different backs cos they are currently so rare that I don't actually miss them.But ifthey all gonna be different I won't be able to..

Shelli

P.s

Agree tho think we're losing too much of our traditions

Jean Durant

Jean Durant Report 27 Jan 2008 09:40

Thankyou everyone for answering. So nice to know I am not old fashioned as I know at least one of you on this thread is a youngster :))

David as I understand it the Government have agreed this.

Seems a shame to me.

Do you think Hirst's cow will be one image or Tracey's shed lolol.

Jean x.

Staffs Col

Staffs Col Report 27 Jan 2008 09:38

Britannia

Jac

Jac Report 27 Jan 2008 09:32

It seems a shame, and if we are going to lose our currency I wish they would hurry up and do it soon - I cant be doing with learning yet another currency!

I'm still in the Pound Shilling and Pence era!

Jac

ஐ+*¨^¨*+e+*¨^¨*+ஐ Mildred Honkinbottom

ஐ+*¨^¨*+e+*¨^¨*+ஐ Mildred Honkinbottom Report 27 Jan 2008 09:28

I'm disappointed but not surprised :o((

Soon we will lose the pound and gain the euro is my betting :o{}