About the Britannia gold coin
Britannia gold coins are thought to be Europe’s first bullion coins and were first brought to market in 1987. The Britannia is issued by the Royal Mint, the official coin maker in the United Kingdom, and the oldest company in the UK.
Today, Britannia gold coins have the highest fineness of 999.9 (24 carat) - only comparable to other popular fine gold coins such as the Canadian Maple Leaf or the American Buffalo - whereas until 2012, these gold coins circulated with a purity of 916.7 (22 carat).
The reverse features various depictions of Britannia, a personification of the United Kingdom and patriotic symbol for the country’s prosperity. It appears that Britannia was already worshiped during the Latin occupation, starting around 50 BC.
Until the year 2000 the depiction of Britannia remained the same, showing her standing with a shield, helmet and a trident. Since 2001, the design changes every odd year.
The obverse features an effigy of the United Kingdom’s monarch. 2023 is the first year that King Charles III was depicted, whereas Queen Elizabeth II had been featured on all previous ones.
Denominations and dimensions of the Britannia gold coins
Since 2013, Britannia gold coins have been issued with the highest fineness of 999.9 (24 carat). Before 2013, Britannias had a fineness of 22 carat with copper being the non-gold component until 1989 and silver between 1990 to 2012.
At GOLD AVENUE, we sell 1/10 oz and 1 oz Britannia gold coins:
The coins have a face value of £10 and £100 respectively and are accepted as a legal tender.
Key figures:
- Highest fineness of 999.9 (24 carat)
- Minted by the United States Mint
- Serves as a legal tender
- Popular design
What are Britannia gold coins worth?
As a legal tender, Britannia gold coins have purchasing power according to their respective “imprinted” face values. In the case of the 1 oz Britannia gold coins, this means that you could walk into the supermarket and pay for your groceries up to £100.
As a bullion coin, however, the decisive factor for the worth of a Britannia gold coin is its metal value, i.e. the current gold price. In the case of the 1 oz Britannia, its metal value is currently at £1,497.46 (August 15, 2023).
Generally speaking, Britannia gold coins tend to trade near their metal values..
Are Britannia gold coins a good investment?
Globally speaking, gold can be a good long-term investment and a good strategy to diversify one's assets. Since 2018, gold yielded a 61% return.
The following are the main elements influencing Britannias as an investment:
- Gold price: The gold price is equal to Britannia's metal value and dependent on market supply and demand.
- Fees: Gold sellers take a fee to cover their costs and to make a (small) profit. These fees are also called the spread.
- Collector value: The collector value is the ideal value that collectors ascribe to a gold item. Key factors that increase the collectible value are the mint's popularity and rarity.
Popular gold coins such as the Britannia tend to have a relatively low spread, i.e. they are getting sold near their metal value. Gold bars can be another interesting choice for gold investors.
Safety features of the Britannia gold coins
The Royal Mint implemented four new security features on Britannia gold coins in 2021 that are visible when the coins are turned and act as safeguards against counterfeiting.
- Latent image:When the coin is viewed from various angles, the latent image transforms from a padlock to a trident, acting as a hologram..
- Surface animation: The coin's minute elements work together to give the impression that waves are rolling behind the image of Britannia.
- Micro text: Using specialized lasers, the word "DECUS ET TUTAMEN," which translates to "an ornament and a safeguard," is added around the image of Britannia..
- Tincture lines: The old craft of tincture lines, which depicts colors and patterns on metal that are exceedingly difficult to replicate, has been brought back by The Royal Mint to increase security.
How to store the Britannia gold coins
Here are our general guidelines on how to store gold coins:
- It is recommended to wear cotton gloves in order to avoid stains
- Gold coins should be stored in particular storage boxes, such as blister cards and coin capsules
Furthermore, for gold bought from GOLD AVENUE, we offer free and fully insured storage (up to 8500 GBP) in our safe Swiss AAA-rated vaults.
In addition, you can resell your gold to us at any time in one-click and with NO commission.
Conclusion: Britannia gold coins
Britannia gold coins are among the most popular fine gold coins, i.e. gold coins with the highest fineness of 999.9 (24 carat). At GOLD AVENUE, we sell the denominations 1/10 oz and 1 oz and we offer free and fully insured storage (up to 8500 GBP) in our safe Swiss AAA-rated vaults.
Other popular gold coins are: