CGT-Free UK Legal Tender Coins: Sovereign & Britannia

Capital Gains Tax and UK legal tender coins

This page summarises publicly available HMRC information for UK residents and lists the UK legal tender coins offered by StoneX Bullion. The tax statements below refer to the HMRC sources listed at the end of the page.

Coins named by HMRC

UK sterling-denominated legal-tender coins such as Sovereigns (minted from 1837) and gold Britannias are named by HMRC as exempt from Capital Gains Tax. HMRC’s Capital Gains Manual (CG78305) explains that coins count as currency only if they are legal tender at the time of acquisition or disposal. Section 21(1)(b) of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 treats currency as an asset with the exception of sterling.

Other Royal Mint coins

Other Royal Mint coins shown on this page, such as silver Britannias, The Angel and the Tudor Beasts / Queen’s Beasts series (gold, silver), are not individually named in CG78305. Please check HMRC guidance or ask a tax adviser about the treatment of a specific coin.

Products outside this explanation

HMRC’s manual identifies Krugerrands as chargeable assets, because they are currency but not sterling (Krugerrand). Gold and silver bars are not legal-tender coins and are not covered by the explanation above. For any other coin, the treatment depends on whether it is legal tender and on individual circumstances; see CG78305 and CG76881 (coins and bank notes).

Prices and stock

Prices in the product list are live prices and move with the gold and silver market. Price and stock status are shown on each product page. Browse all gold coins or silver coins.

Sources

HMRC Capital Gains Manual CG78305 – Foreign currency; CG76881 – Chattels: coins and bank notes; TCGA 1992, section 21; GOV.UK: Capital Gains Tax.

This is general information, not tax advice; tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change.