All Gold British Britannias

British Gold Britannias at JM Bullion

The Gold Britannia is a gold bullion coin series from The Royal Mint that was introduced in 1987. The design of the coin’s reverse, the female allegory known as Britannia, was discovered as a result of an artistic competition and designed by Philip Nathan. Since that time, the Gold Britannia has been available annually to investors around the world.

History of Britannia

The Britannia allegory finds its roots in Roman Britain, where Britannia was personified as a goddess. She was depicted wearing a helmet, holding a trident or a spear, and often accompanied by a lion, symbolizing strength and protection. Her first appearance on coinage that circulated in the British Isles came during the 1st Century AD on coins issued by the Roman Empire.

Obverse Design History

Since its debut in 1987, the Gold Britannia has featured an English monarch on the obverse. Until 2023, the only monarch to ever feature on the obverse of the coins was Queen Elizabeth II. Her Late Majesty featured on the obverse in three different portraits:

• 1987-1997: Raphael Maklouf’s third-generation English bust of Her Majesty featured on the coins
• 1998-2015: Ian Rank-Broadley’s fourth-generation portrait of Elizabeth II graced the coins and was the longest used in the series
• 2016-2023: Jody Clark’s fifth-generation effigy was the final bust of Her Majesty to grace the coins
• 2023-present: Martin Jennings created the first-ever portrait of His Majesty King Charles III for the Britannia Series

Gold Britannias in the Series

When The Royal Mint introduced the British Gold Britannia, there were four weights that debuted as the backbone of the series. These options include the 1 oz gold, 1/2 oz gold, 1/4 oz gold, and 1/10 oz gold coins. Historically, Gold Britannias were introduced with 91.67% gold content. Starting in 2013, the Royal Mint enhanced the gold content to feature 24-karat gold, or .9999 purity. Each of the aforementioned weights has its own face value in Pound sterling (GBP).

Invest in Gold Britannias with JM Bullion

If you have any questions about British Gold Britannias, please feel free to ask. JM Bullion customer service is available at 800-276-6508, online using our web chat, and via our email address. You can also visit our Payment Methods page to learn more about the forms of payment accepted by JM Bullion.