Origin Story
The gold Britannia coin was first introduced by the Royal Mint in 1987 and was focused on representing the island nation's maritime heritage. Its counterpart, the silver Britannia coin was introduced in 1997 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the gold Britannia.
Design
- Heads: The obverse design historically featured a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. However, as of 2023, Britannia coins feature King Charles III following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
- Tails: On the reverse, the British Gold Britannia coin depicts the Britannia, the personification of Britain, holding a trident and olive branch, with a shield bearing the Union Flag. Note that the reverse design has had several interpretations of Britannia over the years.
Production Details
From 1987 to 2012, the gold Britannia had a fineness of 91.7% (22 carat). However, since 2013, the gold Britannia has been produced with a higher fineness of 99.99% (24 carat).
Here are the sizes of British Gold Britannia coins and their respective value as legal tender in British Pounds:
- 1 oz, £100
- 1/2 oz, £50
- 1/4 oz, £25
- 1/10 oz, £10