GOLD BRITANNIA minted pre 2013
PURITY: 22 CARAT
WEIGHT: 34.05g
FINE GOLD: 1 troy ounce
DIAMETER: 32.69 mm
GOLD BRITANNIA minted 2013 – present year
PURITY: 24 CARAT
WEIGHT: 31.104g
FINE GOLD: 1 troy ounce
DIAMETER: 38.61 mm (2013 only)
DIAMETER: 32.69mm (2014 – present)
History of the Gold Britannia
The 1oz Gold Britannia coin is one of the most popular gold coins amongst British investors. This British coin has been minted in bullion gold along with proof coins every year since the first Gold Britannia was minted in 1987. Between the years of 1987 up to 2013 the Britannia coin was manufactured in 22ct. Like so many other countries 1oz Gold Coins (most notably the 1oz Gold Krugerrand) the Gold Britannia contained 1 troy ounce of fine gold, but was alloyed with copper (until 1989) then with silver (1989-2012) to bring the carat value of the coin to 22ct.
In 2013 the Royal Mint started manufacturing these coins with a purity of 24 ct, and produced a ‘flatter shaped’ or ‘Thin’ Britannia gold coin specifically for this year.
The Royal Mint proudly states the Britannia Gold Coin is ‘renowned for their beauty and reliability’ and depicts Queen Elizabeth II and was designed by Jody Clark. The reverse of the coin features Britannia, and was designed by Phillip Nathan. Gold Britannia’s are only minted at The Royal Mint, who press thousands of these coins each year depending on their supply and the demand for gold.
The Gold Britannia coin is considered favourable against investors as its ‘legal tender’ status, and face value of £100 (despite the considerably higher value of the coin in gold) means that these coins are not subject to Capital Gains Tax in the UK to British investors.
Like many other 1oz Coins, including the Gold Krugerrand, the Canadian Maple and the Chinese Panda coins, to name but a few, the British Gold Britannia is minted in smaller denominations of 1 troy ounce that are listed below:
- 2013 – Present
- 5 Troy Ounce Coin
- 1 Troy Ounce Britannia
- Half Ounce Britannia
- Quarter Ounce Britannia
- Tenth Ounce Britannia
- Twentieth Ounce Britannia