1oz silver Britannias
The 1oz Silver Britannia is the standard bullion version of the coin.
The current 1oz Britannia contains 31.103g of pure silver, has a fineness of 999 and carries a nominal face value of £2.
Its face value does not represent its actual market value. The value of a bullion Britannia is primarily influenced by the silver it contains, the current silver price and the applicable premium.
You can compare Britannias with other 1oz silver coins, including international bullion coins.
Best Value silver Britannias
For buyers whose priority is obtaining physical silver at a competitive premium, Best Value Silver Britannias can be worth considering.
Best Value coins are generally selected from available stock rather than by a particular year. This means the focus is on the underlying bullion rather than obtaining the latest issue or a specific design.
Pre-owned bullion may show signs of age or handling, but this does not alter the amount of silver contained in the coin.
Compare the Best Value options shown above with current-year Britannias to see the difference in premiums before buying. + Read more
Buying silver Britannias in larger quantities
Silver Britannias can also be purchased in larger quantities, including tubes of 25 coins and Monster Boxes of 500, subject to current availability. Physical Gold currently lists both formats within its Britannia range.
Buying multiple coins allows investors to build a larger silver holding while retaining the divisibility of individual 1oz coins.
This can be useful when eventually selling because individual coins or smaller groups of coins can be sold without disposing of the entire holding.
Understanding silver Britannia premiums
The price of a Silver Britannia is based on the value of the silver it contains plus a premium.
The premium reflects factors including minting, distribution, availability and market demand. Premiums can differ between current-year, Best Value, fractional and special-edition Britannias.
When comparing coins, it is therefore useful to look at the total cost relative to the amount of silver contained in the coin, rather than considering the individual purchase price alone.
Best Value coins may be particularly relevant where obtaining physical silver at a competitive premium is more important than the year or design of the coin.
VAT and Capital Gains Tax on silver Britannias
The tax treatment of Silver Britannias has two important elements.
Silver Britannias purchased for physical delivery in the UK are generally subject to 20% VAT.
However, because Britannias are British legal-tender coins, they are exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents.
This CGT treatment is an important distinction between Britannias and many overseas silver bullion coins.
Physical Gold also currently offers a VAT-free Silver Britannia for storage, where the coin is purchased for offshore storage rather than UK delivery.
If you are considering a larger silver purchase, compare the standard UK-delivery products above with the available VAT-free storage option.
Silver Britannias or other silver coins?
Britannias are not the only way to own physical silver.
Physical Gold also stocks internationally recognised bullion coins including Silver Krugerrands, Canadian Maple Leafs, American Eagles and Austrian Philharmonics. You can compare these in our wider silver coin range.
For UK investors, the principal tax distinction is that Silver Britannias benefit from CGT exemption because of their British legal-tender status. International bullion coins do not generally have the same UK CGT treatment.
Premiums and availability can also differ, so it is worth comparing the total purchase cost as well as the particular coin.
Silver Britannias or silver bars?
Both Silver Britannias and silver bars provide direct ownership of physical silver, but they have different characteristics.
Larger silver bars will generally appeal to buyers seeking a lower premium per gram, whereas individual Britannias provide greater divisibility.
Britannias also benefit from CGT exemption for UK residents, while silver bars do not have the same legal-tender exemption.
For larger investments, Physical Gold also offers a VAT-free silver bar solution held in bonded storage in Zurich.
How much is a silver Britannia worth?
The underlying bullion value of a Silver Britannia is closely linked to the amount of pure silver it contains and the current silver price.
A standard 1oz Britannia contains 31.103g of pure silver, so movements in the underlying silver price directly affect its bullion value.
The price at which an individual Britannia is bought or sold will also reflect factors such as the applicable premium, product availability and market conditions.
You can check the underlying live silver price in pounds sterling before comparing individual Britannias.
Delivery and secure storage
Silver Britannias purchased from Physical Gold can be delivered using our free, fully insured UK delivery service, with orders securely and discreetly packaged.
Alternatively, customers can choose secure storage rather than keeping their coins at home.
Physical Gold also currently offers a VAT-free Silver Britannia product specifically for storage.
Find out more about silver delivery and secure storage.
Why buy silver Britannias from Physical Gold?
Physical Gold is a specialist precious-metals dealer based in London’s Hatton Garden and an authorised Royal Mint distributor.
Our Silver Britannia range includes current-year coins, Best Value Britannias, fractional coins and larger-quantity options, giving buyers different ways to build a physical silver holding.
Our team can help if you have questions about choosing Britannias, premiums, VAT, Capital Gains Tax, delivery or storage.
For assistance, call 020 7060 9992 or email info@physicalgold.com.
