The Royal Mint’s Four-Nines Gold Coin
The Gold Britannia has been the Royal Mint’s flagship gold bullion coin since 1987, and since 2013 it has been struck at .9999 fine, the same standard as the Canadian Maple Leaf. This random-date listing ships whichever year the Mint has most available, backed by a £100 face value from the British government. Every coin holds one troy ounce of .9999 fine gold, assayed to that standard regardless of which year lands in your order.
Britannia on the Reverse, Two Monarchs on the Obverse
The reverse carries Philip Nathan’s 1987 portrait of Britannia standing on a rocky shore against the wind, a Corinthian helmet on her head, trident in hand, an olive branch tucked into the arm bracing her shield. The obverse carries whichever monarch was reigning when your coin was struck. Coins through 2023 carry Queen Elizabeth II’s effigy, and coins from 2023 onward carry King Charles III’s, the first year his portrait appeared on the series. The design hasn’t moved, only the monarch on the front has, since 1987.
You Don’t Choose the Year
This listing ships whatever year and effigy the Mint has most available when your order goes out, not a year you pick. Depending on what’s in stock, you might receive a Queen Elizabeth II coin or a King Charles III coin, and multi-coin orders can include a mix of both. Every year meets the same .9999 purity standard this SKU is assayed to, regardless of which monarch is on it. Year and effigy are random, and requests for one over the other aren’t accepted.
Backed by the Crown, Eligible for an IRA
Every coin carries a £100 face value backed by the British government, though the bullion value of the gold inside is worth far more than that number stamped on the coin. At .9999 fine, it clears the IRS’s .995 minimum for a precious metals IRA by a wide margin. Eligibility isn’t a close call, since the purity margin is that wide.
1 oz Gold Britannia Specifications
Every coin holds one troy ounce of .9999 fine gold with a £100 face value struck into the design. Purity and weight are fixed, whichever year or effigy ships. Full current specs are on the Specifications tab above.
1 oz Gold Britannia FAQ
Will I get a Queen Elizabeth II or King Charles III coin?
Either. The Mint introduced the King Charles III effigy in 2023, and used Queen Elizabeth II’s before that. This listing ships whichever year is on hand, and you cannot request one over the other.
Is the 1 oz Gold Britannia IRA eligible?
Yes. At .9999 fine, it clears the IRS’s .995 minimum for a precious metals IRA by a wide margin. The margin is wide, well past what the rule requires.
Does this coin have a face value?
Yes, every 1 oz Gold Britannia carries a £100 face value backed by the British government, though the bullion value of the gold inside is worth far more than that number stamped on the coin. Face value is £100, not what the coin is worth.
Are all Gold Britannias .9999 fine?
Only coins struck from 2013 onward. Coins from 2012 and earlier were struck at .9167 fine, the same standard as a pre-2013 American Gold Eagle. This listing is assayed at .9999 fine as stated on the Specifications tab. 2013 is the cutoff, not the coin’s age or design.
What condition will my coin arrive in?
Brilliant Uncirculated, as struck by the Mint. Because .9999 gold is soft, coins may show light handling marks from minting and shipping, which is normal for the series and does not affect the gold content. Condition is Brilliant Uncirculated, not a third-party grade.
Curious how the Britannia compares to other sovereign gold coins? Browse our full selection.
Ready to add four-nines gold to your stack? Add the 1 oz Gold Britannia Coin to your cart.
gordon d –
great coins