The Gold Britannia is an official bullion coin of the United Kingdom and contains 1 troy ounce of .9999 pure gold, making it IRA-eligible.
Gold Britannia coins are legal tender and have a face value of £100 pounds. The gold content, weight, and purity of every Britannia coin are guaranteed by the British government.
What does Common Date mean? These 1 oz Gold Britannias are circulated coins (i.e. pre-owned). The years will vary and may be mixed or all the same. The purity also varies. Gold Britannias minted after 2013 are .9999 fine gold and 2012 and earlier have a .9167 fineness (the same as an American Gold Eagle). But, of course, all years contain the same one full troy ounce of gold by weight. The value of their gold content is not diminished.
The back of these 24K coins feature the iconic Britannia figure, the symbolic protector of the British Isles. She stands firm against the winds of a powerful gale, vigilantly watching over her homeland armed with her trident, shield and Corinthian helmet. She holds an olive branch as a symbol of peace in her left hand. An added detail that is often missed is the name Nathan, stamped in the bottom giving credit to its designer, Philip Nathan.
Since 2017, Britannia coins have a speckled radial sunburst in their design, giving them a striking look that is very difficult to counterfeit.
The front of the Gold Britannia coin features Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and face value.
The weight and strength of Gold Britannia coins are verified at the annual, centuries-old Trial of the Pyx where a jury of assayers ensure newly minted coins conform to required standards.
The Royal Mint has been striking coins for over 1,000 years. It takes its inspiration from ancient Britannia coins first struck by the Romans.
It was the practice of the Romans to personify continents and countries as female figures. And for the Province of Britannia (the Roman controlled regions of England, Scotland and Wales) they used the figure of Britannia. On coins of emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD) she is featured in classic flowing robes with a spear and shield, seated on rocky crags which probably provided the invaders’ first view of Britain.
Pictured below, early Britannia coins:
After the Romans, she was brought back during the reign of Charles II, but as a maritime figure as the British Empire sought to assert its sovereignty over the seas. This is the inspiration behind the trident pictured in today’s design.
Gold Britannia coins draw from a deep historical heritage, and its .9999 purity, anti-counterfeiting feature, and reasonable premium over spot make it ideal for the modern precious metals investor now.
Multiples of 10 Gold Britannias ship in sealed tubes.