Gold Britannia Coins

Gold Britannia coins – 999.9 fine gold from The Royal Mint

The Gold Britannia is The Royal Mint’s flagship gold bullion coin. Introduced in 1987 and struck in 999.9 fine gold since 2013, it bears the official coinage portrait of King Charles III and is UK legal tender. StoneX Bullion offers current issues in 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz and 1/10 oz, together with selected earlier vintages.

StoneX Bullion is part of StoneX Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SNEX), a Fortune 50 company, and is an LBMA Affiliate. New coins are purchased directly from the mints; coins from earlier years are checked for authenticity. All orders are shipped discreetly packaged and fully insured¹ across the UK and Europe.

2027: 40 years of the Gold Britannia

2027 marks the 40th anniversary of the Gold Britannia. For this year only, The Royal Mint has added a ‘40’ wave privy mark and a background texture showing the number 40 within the surface animation. The reverse features Philip Nathan’s standing Britannia with shield, olive branch and trident – the design used since 1987 – and the obverse Martin Jennings’ portrait of King Charles III.

• 1 oz Gold Britannia 2027
• ½ oz Gold Britannia 2027
• ¼ oz Gold Britannia 2027
• 1/10 oz Gold Britannia 2027

Design

Reverse

Britannia, the personification of Britain, stands with shield, trident and olive branch. The inscriptions give the name BRITANNIA, the year, the weight and the fineness.

Obverse

The official coinage portrait of the reigning monarch with the denomination. Current issues show King Charles III; earlier vintages show Queen Elizabeth II.

Security features

Since 2021, The Royal Mint has struck the Britannia with four visual security features:

• Latent image: below Britannia’s figure, a trident changes to a padlock as the viewing angle changes.
• Surface animation: the wave pattern in the background appears to move when the coin is tilted.
• Micro-text: the border bears the inscription ‘DECUS ET TUTAMEN’ (‘an ornament and a safeguard’).
• Tincture lines: fine lines define the Union flag on Britannia’s shield.

Specifications

• 1 oz: 31.1035 g fine gold, fineness 999.9, diameter 32.69 mm, face value £100
• ½ oz: 15.55 g fine gold, fineness 999.9, diameter 27.00 mm, face value £50
• ¼ oz: 7.78 g fine gold, fineness 999.9, diameter 22.00 mm, face value £25
• 1/10 oz: 3.11 g fine gold, fineness 999.9, diameter 16.50 mm, face value £10

Mint: The Royal Mint, Llantrisant, Wales. The 999.9 fineness applies to coins from 2013 onwards; coins dated 1987–2012 were struck in 22-carat gold (916.7) with the same fine gold content per size.

VAT status

Gold Britannias qualify as investment gold and are therefore VAT-free in the UK and the EU. Within the EU, investment gold is exempt from VAT under Council Directive 2006/112/EC; the Britannia is included in the European Commission’s annual list of gold coins that meet the investment gold criteria.

How to buy Gold Britannias at StoneX Bullion

1. Select size and year: availability and delivery time are shown for each product.
2. Check the live price: prices are updated continuously in line with the gold market.
3. Pay securely: by bank transfer or credit card.
4. Insured delivery: discreet packaging, fully insured¹.

Gold Britannias: FAQs

How much gold does a 1 oz Gold Britannia contain?

One troy ounce, i.e. 31.1035 g of 999.9 fine gold. The coin has a diameter of 32.69 mm and a face value of £100.

What distinguishes the 2027 Gold Britannia?

The 2027 issue marks the coin’s 40th anniversary with a one-off ‘40’ wave privy mark and a ‘40’ background texture. Both elements appear on this year’s issue only.

Which security features does the Gold Britannia have?

Since 2021: a latent image (trident/padlock), surface animation, micro-text and tincture lines.

Have Gold Britannias always been 999.9 fine?

No. From 1987 to 2012, Britannias were struck in 22-carat gold (916.7); since 2013 they have been struck in 999.9 fine gold. The fine gold content of each size is unchanged – a pre-2013 1 oz Britannia also contains one troy ounce of fine gold, with a correspondingly higher gross weight.

Are Gold Britannias VAT-free?

Yes. As investment gold, Gold Britannias are exempt from VAT in the UK and the EU.

What does the face value mean?

The face value (£100 for 1 oz) reflects the coin’s status as UK legal tender. The market price is determined by the gold content and the current gold price.

How are coins from earlier years handled?

Coins from earlier years are checked for authenticity. Coins labelled ‘second choice’ may show signs of handling or minor blemishes; their gold content is unaffected.

¹ Applies to private customers in accordance with our T&Cs.