Gold Britannias

2024 1 oz British Gold Britannia

The 1 oz Gold Britannia is a certified classic. With the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, the coin series changed forever. The brand new 2024 1 oz British Gold Britannia features King Charles III on its obverse. He wears no crown and instead looks off into the distance. On the reverse, you’ll find Britannia, the female personification of the British Isles. She wears her classic flowing gown and carries both a trident and the shield of Britain. 

½ oz British Gold Britannia

This coin features the same beautiful designs and .9999 fine gold bullion as the full 1 oz British Gold Britannia – but at a lower price tag. Perfect for investors looking to up their stacking game without breaking the bank, the ½ oz British Gold Britannia is an excellent choice for new and seasoned investors. 

1/10 oz British Gold Britannia 

Finally, we arrive at the little guy. Don’t let its size fool you; this coin still includes an impressive .9999 gold purity, as well as some of the finest artwork we’ve ever seen out of the Royal Mint. We talk a lot about the importance of fractional denominations, or coins weighing in at less than one troy oz. For some investors, these tiny coins are the perfect way to improve the liquidity and diversity of their precious metal portfolios. Ready to dive into one of the world’s most impressive gold coins without spending thousands? The 1/10 oz British Gold Britannia is a tradition for a reason. 

Buy British Gold Britannias with Hero Bullion! 

For centuries, the British Royal Mint has produced high quality gold coins for collectors and investors. But of all the mint’s offerings, one piece stands above the rest: the British Gold Britannia. The coin features an obverse portrait of the country’s leader, as well as an intricately detailed, beautiful reverse artwork of Lady Britannia. 

Hero Bullion sells a wide range of Gold Britannias from the British Royal Mint. These coins are struck with .9999 fine gold bullion and continue to be a favorite for collectors around the world. And what’s not to love? The impressive purity, brilliant designs, and historical context of these coins has made them a dominant force on the global bullion market. 

Scroll up to see some of our current offerings. On the rest of this page, you’ll find a guide to everything a new investor should know about the British Gold Britannia – as well as the storied mint behind it. 

History of the Gold Britannia

The Gold Britannia’s recent history starts in 1987, when the British Royal Mint unveiled the first line of Gold Britannia Coins. The coins were released just two years after an embargo from the United States tanked global sales of the Gold Krugerrand. The Krugerrand had previously been the world’s most popular coin, making up an astounding 90% of global gold coin sales. 

With the collapse of this bullion giant, several governments around the world scrambled to release their own gold coins to grab some of the Krugerrand’s customers. The Gold Britannia was certainly a major contender, and it quickly made its way into the pockets of collectors everywhere. 

The rest is history. The Gold Britannia has been released once per year since 1987, with the only true update to its obverse design coming in 2023 with the coronation of King Charles III. 

Britannia as a Symbol

But the Britannia’s history actually dates back quite a bit further. It begins with the inception of the coin’s reverse artwork. While the Gold Britannia itself was released just half a century ago, Lady Britannia has origins that go back even further than the British Empire we know today. 

Historians typically believe that the symbol of Britannia was first used in the 2nd century AD. Some Roman coins even feature Britannia, which they considered the female personification of the British Isles. Her likeness was adopted by the British Royal Navy in 1797, when they added a trident to symbolize their impressive military victories and dominance. 

On the Gold Britannia, Britannia appears on the reverse. She wears her crown and carries both a trident and the shield of England. This classic symbol has appeared on all Britannias since their release in 1987, but her real history dates back to the Ancient Romans! 

The Royal British Mint 

The British Royal Mint is one of the oldest institutions in the history of the world. Great Britain’s national (and only) mint, they’ve been in operation since 886 AD. That’s over 1,300 years of continuous operation. Needless to say, the Royal British Mint has had generations to establish their stellar reputation. 

This reputation is on full display with the British Gold Britannia. As one of the country’s most popular coin series, the Gold Britannia features some of the most impressive artwork ever created by a mint. We’re quite proud of our own stock of Gold Britannias – check those out at the top of this page. 

Key Features and Designs 

Alright. We’ve spent enough time nerding out about the history of the brilliant British Gold Britannia. Let’s take a closer look at the coin’s key features, including its specifications and designs. 

Specifications and Purity 

The Gold Britannia is minted using .9999 fine gold bullion. Aside from rare releases like the “five-nines” Gold Maple, this is about as pure as it gets for a gold coin. Take care: a coin with this degree of fineness can be damaged if they’re handled improperly. 

Coins are available in fractional denominations. In other words, you don’t have to pull out a check for $2,000 to buy a full one ounce British Gold Britannia. Instead, some investors prefer the 1/10 oz, ¼ oz, or ½ oz Gold Britannia Coin. Hero Bullion offers all fractional denominations for the most recent Britannia release, so be sure to check out our inventory at the top of the page. 

Obverse Depiction 

The obverse side of the British Gold Britannia has undergone a change. For decades, Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait decorated the front side of this immensely popular bullion coin. With her death in late 2022, Charles III became the current monarch of England. As King, it will be his portrait that appears on subsequent coins released by the Royal Mint.

Our first King Type Gold Britannia Coin came in 2024. On the obverse, we note King Charles. He wears no jewelry and no crown, and is surrounded by his official title as the King of Great Britain. 

Before the death of Queen Elizabeth, an aging Queen appeared on all Gold Britannias. She wore pearl earrings, as well as her crown. 

Reverse Depiction 

If you’re not a fan of change, check out the reverse of the Gold Britannia. The coin has featured the same artwork on its reverse for nearly four decades, and we don’t anticipate that it will change anytime soon. 

Lady Britannia, the female personification of the British Empire, appears on a rocky cliff. She holds a trident in her right hand and the shield of Britain in her left. Her hair flows in the wind beneath a war helmet. If this sounds like a lot of detail to include on a coin, that’s because it is! The British Gold Britannia has won a reputation as one of the most detailed and innovative coins in history, and we have Britannia to thank for that! 

Unique Variations 

There are two unique variations of the classic British Gold Britannia. We’ll take a closer look at both of these coins below. 

King Vs. Queen Type Britannia 

In 2023, two different versions of the British Gold Britannia were released. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III, the Royal Mint released both a King and Queen Type Gold Britannia in 2023. As their names suggest, these coins are named based on the monarch that decorated their obverse. 

On the Queen Type, you’ll note a similar depiction of Queen Elizabeth to the one we’d seen for the past few decades. There’s one major change. To the left of her head, the mint included her reign: 1952-2022. 

The Queen Type Gold Britannia features the newly crowned King Charles III. On this coin, he wears no crown. 

Coronation Gold Britannia 

To celebrate the coronation of a new monarch, the British Mint released the 2023 British Gold Coronation Britannia Coin. The coin features King Charles III on the obverse, along with his royal titles. On the reverse, you’ll find the same Britannia that has graced British Britannia coinage since 1987. 

Investing in British Gold Britannias 

Are you ready to invest in British Gold Britannias? For decades, these coins have been a staple for collectors around the world. If you’re planning on adding Gold Britannias to your collection, we’ve prepared a couple of tips for you to get started. 

How to Buy British Gold Britannias 

You can buy British Gold Britannias from most online coin dealers. Hero Bullion is proud to be a distributor of Gold Britannias, but we aren’t the only option around. Customers looking to find British Gold Britannias at a discount can try their luck at local coin shops. Keep in mind, though, that these shops likely won’t offer the wide selection provided by online retailers. 

Comparing Prices

Compare prices across multiple dealers before putting your money on British gold. Some dealers may charge absurd premiums for their gold coins, especially if their coins are in high demand from collectors. 

Premiums for Gold Britannia Coins 

To properly compare prices, you need to understand a bit about how coin premiums work. If you’re a seasoned bullion buyer, feel free to skip this section. 

For new customers, you should know that gold coins are sold at a premium over spot. A premium is a small (or large) fee added to the cost of a coin. A coin’s base value is determined by the amount of pure gold it contains, calculated using the current spot price of gold. 

Additional fees are added to the top of a coin’s price, which helps give us its total value. Coin premiums can vary from dealer to dealer, so be sure to consult our spot price page to make sure you have the latest possible information. 

Final Thoughts: Buy British Gold Britannia Coins 

The British Gold Britannia has been a favorite of coin collectors for decades. Hero Bullion sells British Gold Britannias at competitive prices to help you grow your stack with confidence! 

Feel free to reach out to our dedicated customer service team with any questions you may have.