Gold Britannia
Coins
The Royal Mint’s gold Britannia bullion coins are one of the most popular investment coins in the world. Each of these coins is a symbol of British heritage and showcases changing depictions of Britannia, the female personification of Britain.
For investors, gold Britannias offer 24-carat purity, advanced security features, and a tangible investment with a global reputation for quality. In the UK, gold Britannias have the added bonus of being CGT-free and VAT-exempt.
Let’s explore what makes gold Britannias such a special and timeless investment.
History of the gold Britannia bullion coin
The gold Britannia’s history begins in 1987, when the Royal Mint first introduced this uniquely British bullion coin as a competitor to the popular Krugerrand and American Gold Eagle coins. At the time, gold investment was becoming increasingly popular worldwide. The British Royal Mint recognised the need for a high-quality British bullion investment coin that could be sold at a low premium over the metal’s intrinsic value.
The first gold Britannia coins were struck in 22-carat gold with .9167 purity and issued in two finishes: proof and uncirculated. They were available in four weights: one troy ounce, half ounce, quarter ounce, and a tenth of an ounce, catering to different budgets. The gold Britannia coin offerings were generally seen as the new alternative to the British sovereign, with the fractional sizes offering an easy way to buy small quantities of bullion.
Although the first Britannia bullion coin collection was launched in 1987, the coin’s history runs much further back. The figure of Britannia has been a symbol of British strength since Roman times, when Emperor Hadrian first featured her likeness on coins as early as 119 AD. Her image was revived on British coinage in 1672 by King Charles II, and she has since appeared on various forms of British currency throughout the centuries.
2013: Britannia’s change in gold purity
2013 marked the first release of gold Britannia coins in 24-carat .9999 purity, helping align the coin with leading bullion coins from other major mints. This update also introduced a wider, flatter design that was nicknamed the ‘Britannia wafer’. While still containing one troy ounce of gold, this new design drew mixed reactions as many investors preferred the thicker profile of earlier coins. Before 2013, gold Britannias weighed 34.05 grams, but the shift to 24-carat gold reduced the weight to 31.1035 grams per coin.
Today, British gold Britannias remain one of the most popular bullion coins in the world, struck by the Royal Mint at its facility in Llantrisant, South Wales. The coins are struck to an unlimited mintage each year. All gold Britannia coins are considered British legal tender with each 1 oz coin having a face value of £100 GBP.
The 2014 gold Britannia mule
In 2014, a famous mishap occurred with the Britannia coins, dubbed the gold Britannia mule. In the coin world, a ‘mule’ refers to a minting error, where mismatched dies designed for different coins are accidentally combined. In the case of the 2014 Britannia, the coin’s reverse was mistakenly stamped with the reverse design meant for the Royal Mint’s first lunar coin from their Shēngxiào Collection.
Being the Year of the Horse, this coin featured a plain edge with an image of a galloping horse on the reverse. When the dies were mixed, the Britannia coins combined the plain edge obverse from the Lunar coin with the denticle reverse from the Britannia. On the other hand, the Lunar coin combined the denticle obverse from the Britannia with the Lunar horse plain edge reverse.
These coins quickly became coveted amongst investors, and with just 17,000 in circulation, people are willing to pay a pretty dime to add a Britannia mule to their collection.
Gold Britannia effigies
Until 2023, gold Britannia coins featured a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse side. Three different versions of the Queen’s effigy have appeared over the years:
- 1987-1997 coins featured Raphael Maklouf’s third-generation portrait of the Queen wearing the royal diadem.
- 1998-2015 coins showcased the fourth-generation effigy of QEII by Ian Rank-Broadley.
- 2016-2023 coins featured Jody Clark’s fifth-generation design of Queen Elizabeth II in the year of her Sapphire Jubilee.
Since 2023, all gold Britannias have featured the new effigy of King Charles III created by Martin Jennings.
Who is Britannia?
Britannia is an iconic personification of Britain and the namesake and figurehead of Britannia coins. Her depiction as a powerful, protective figure appearing on coinage over centuries has turned her into a symbol of British strength and national pride.
Britannia’s image first appeared on Roman coins in 119 AD during Emperor Hadrian’s rule. At the time, the term Britannia was used to describe the British Isles under Roman control. In these coins, Britannia was pictured holding a spear and shield as a symbol of power and resilience. Later coins from this era showed Britannia dressed in traditional British war costume, embodying the nation’s resistance against Roman invasions. She then disappeared from British coinage for more than 1,500 years.
In 1697, Britannia’s image was revived on British coinage by King Charles II, who placed her on the farthing. At the time, Britain’s naval power was waning. As a symbol of British strength and resilience, Britannia’s image was reintroduced to boost morale in the nation. She again appeared in 1797 on the famous cartwheel pennies and two pence coins issued during the reign of King George III. She then continued appearing on various British coins until her official depiction on the gold Britannia bullion coin series in 1987.
The modern Britannia design – the one appearing on gold Britannia bullion coins – was created by sculptor Philip Nathan. His standing Britannia, poised with her trident and shield, is based on an engraving by George William de Saulles and is one of the most admired bullion designs. Britannia’s figure has come to signify Britain’s role as a global power, with her shield, helmet, and trident symbolising the strength of the British Empire.
Gold Britannia coin sizes
Gold Britannias are available in a range of sizes, from 1/10 oz up to the standard 1 oz. Each coin features the same design, but they vary in terms of gold content. Here are the different sizes available in the gold Britannia series:
- 1 oz gold Britannia: This is the standard and most popular size, containing exactly one troy ounce (31.1 grams) of 24-carat gold. Each 1 oz gold Britannia coin has a face value of £100.
- ½ oz gold Britannia: The ½ oz gold Britannia has a face value of £50 and weighs 15.55 grams. It’s an ideal choice for investors looking to balance affordability with gold content.
- ¼ oz gold Britannia: The ¼ oz gold Britannia has a face value of £25 and weighs 7.78 grams. It’s a popular choice for those looking to increase their gold investments in small increments.
- 1/10 oz gold Britannia: The smallest size has a face value of £10 and weighs 3.11 grams. The 1/10 oz gold Britannia is ideal for those just starting to explore gold investments.
In 2013, two new sizes of gold Britannia were introduced:
- 5 oz gold Britannia: The new five ounce coin weighs 156.395 grams and has a diameter of 65 mm.
- 1/20 oz gold Britannia: These are now the smallest options in the gold Britannia series, weighing 1.58 grams with a diameter of 12 mm.
Gold Britannia coin size chart
Compare the various sizes of gold Britannias in this chart.
| COIN SIZE | FACE VALUE | WEIGHT |
| 5 oz | £500 | 156.395 grams |
| 1 oz | £100 | 31.1 grams |
| ½ oz | £50 | 15.55 grams |
| ¼ oz | £25 | 7.78 grams |
| 1/10 oz | £10 | 3.11 grams |
| 1/20 oz | £50 | 1.58 grams |
Gold Britannia designs
The Britannia gold coin series has featured various designs, each reflecting the strength and legacy of Britannia. Let’s look at some of the most memorable designs of the Britannia coin series…
- Charioteer (1997): Philp Nathan’s iconic 1997 design features Britannia as a fierce charioteer guiding a two-horse chariot, inspired by the legendary British warrior queen Boudicca. This design was used again in 1999 and 2009.
- Una and the Lion (2001): Echoing the classic Victorian depiction of Queen Victoria as Una with her lion, this 2001 coin depicts Britannia standing proudly with a lion at her side, her shield and trident at the ready.
- Britannia Helmet (2003): This design featured a close-up of Britannia in her helmet with waves in the background.
- Seated Britannia (2005): This collector favourite features Britannia seated, helmeted, and holding an olive branch as a symbol of peace.
- Wreath Britannia (2007): Christopher Le Brun’s depiction shows a seated Britannia holding an olive branch and resting against a tree with a lion by her feet – all framed by a wreath.
- Seaside Britannia (2008): Created by John Bergdahl, this design captures Britannia standing against a sea-inspired backdrop with the bottom of her gown flowing into waves.
- Profile Britannia (2010): Suzie Zamit’s portrait of Britannia is inspired by the French depiction of Marianne, a symbol of the French Republic.
- Union Jack Britannia (2011): David Mach designed this patriotic scene of Britannia seated against a background of the Union Jack.
- Britannia and the Owl (2013): This ancient-Greek inspired design by Robert Hunt features Britannia seated next to an owl.
- Lighthouse Britannia (2015): Antony Dufort’s design shows Britannia standing with her trident and shield, with a lighthouse and ship in the distance.
- Warrior Britannia (2016): Another Suzie Zamit design, this one features Britannia standing in a battle outfit with a lion at her side.
- Globe Britannia (2014): Jody Clark’s depiction of Britannia shows her standing with a lion against a backdrop of a globe.
- 30th Anniversary Britannia (2017): Made in celebration of the silver Britannia 30th anniversary, this Louis Tamlyn design portrays Britannia with the outline of Great Britain against a background of the Union flag. The coin also included a trident privy mark and guilloche background for extra security.
- Radiant Britannia (2017): This uncirculated coin featured Britannia standing before a radiant sun, a design that not only added security but also protected the field from scratch marks.
Gold Britannia coin’s security features
In 2021, the Britannia series introduced four advanced security features on the coin’s reverse side. These security features not only add to the coin’s design but also protect against counterfeiting, helping make Britannias one of the most secure coins on the market.
The four security features found on gold Britannias issued after 2021 include:
- Surface animation: This uses intricate, microscopic reliefs to create a wave-like effect across the coin’s background. When the coin’s viewing angle changes, the textured background appears to mimic rolling ocean waves.
- Latent feature: This security mark features a circular image that shifts between a trident and padlock depending on the viewing angle.
- Tincture lines: These are very finely detailed lines that appear on the background of Britannia’s Union Jack shield. The tincture lines appear horizontal across the stripes and vertical in other fields behind the stripes.
Micro-text: This intricate text appears along the design’s rim and is nearly invisible to the naked eye. The micro-text on Britannia coins reads the Latin motto, ‘Decus et Tutamen’, which translates to ‘An Ornament and a Safeguard’.