The Britannia is one of the most famous coins ever released in British coinage history. It is the pride and joy of the Royal Mint and also forms the backbone of any precious metal coin portfolio. The Britannia is available in both gold and silver and offers tremendous liquidity to the portfolio of an investor. Due to its reputation as one of the best-known coins in the world, it is easily saleable for cash.
The Britannia coin
The Britannia gold coin is a 1-ounce coin with a purity of 999.9 and a face value of 100 GBP that was launched by the Royal Mint in 1987. It is available in bullion and proof finishes, as well as fractional sizes. The Royal Mint also introduced a silver Britannia coin in 1997, which has a face value of 2 pounds. The silver Britannia contains one Troy ounce of fine silver. Both the gold and the silver coin feature a portrait of the reigning British monarch, Queen, Elizabeth II on the obverse of the coin. The reverse of the coin features the classic image of Britannia. The event featured on the coins issued from 1987, was designed by Philip Nathan. In 2018, the Royal Mint also released a Platinum version of the Britannia coin that contains one Troy ounce of Platinum and has a face value of £100.
The iconic image of Britannia above Somerset House in London
Who was Britannia?
In 43AD Britannia meant Roman Britain. This was an area to the south of what is known today as Scotland. In 197AD Roman Britain was divided into 4 provinces and 2 of these were Britannia Superior and Britannia Inferior. Britannia was the name given to this Island. In the 2nd Century, Roman Britannia was what is recognised today as the goddess armed with a trident and shield. Britannia was featured on all modern British coinage until being redesigned in 2008.
The Romans used the term ‘Britannicae’ to refer to the British Isles. The inhabitants of Britain were called ‘Britons’ at the time. Another name for the people of the British Isles used by the Romans was ‘Britanni’. Since the British Isles represented the furthest territory of the Roman Empire, it became symbolised with the goddess of warfare and water. Roman mythology portrays a goddess called Minerva, who is popularly known as the torchbearer of arts, commerce, strategy and wisdom. The image of Britannia was based on the icon of goddess Minerva and came to personify the British Isles over the years.
A World War 1 Poster depicting Britannia
Reinforcement of the Britannia image
After the invasion of England by the Anglo-Saxons, the ethnicity of the country changed drastically, with the exodus of the original Celtic Britons. However, years later, as Queen Elizabeth, I combined England, Scotland, Ireland. and Wales and significantly increased the nation’s naval power, the image of Britannia was restored as a representation of the nation’s power and the Queen. This was further reinforced during the reign of the great Queen Victoria when the British Empire became the most powerful empire in the world and Britannia ruled the waves. The iconic image of Britannia was then put firmly in place to represent the power of the British Empire, and its monarch.
Physical Gold can assist you in purchasing Britannia coins
Whether it’s gold Britannias or silver ones that you’re after, our coin experts at Physical Gold can advise you on how to get the best deals. Call us on (020) 7060 9992 or drop us an email and a member of our team will reach out to you at the earliest.
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The Panda coin
Country: China
Face Value: 100 Yuan
Gold Content: 1 ounce (31.103g)
Purity: 99.99% (24 karat)
Gross Weight: 31.1036g
Coin Diameter: 32.103mm
First year of issue: 1982
The Chinese Panda coin is a series of gold bullion coins issued by the People’s Republic of China. This coin is 24 karat gold and has a face value of 100 Yuan. The mint introduced the Panda gold bullion coins in 1982. Each year of production, other than 2002, the reverse design of the panda coin has changed and has therefore enabled the Chinese to build a steady demand regardless of gold price fluctuations.
Over the last 30 years, Gold Panda Coins have become an established favourite with many collectors, who appreciate their stunning and unusual designs, as well as the coin’s highly distinctive colouring. The coin itself is backed by the Chinese Government which means it has a guaranteed purity level much like the UK Britannia coin or the South African Krugerrand.
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Mintmarks
One area where Panda Coins differ to other bullion coins is that they don’t contain any mintmarks to show the place where they have been produced. Pandas are produced in a number of different Chinese mints including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenyang. In order to determine the mint, you need to take a careful look at variations between coins such as the colour of the metal or subtle design differences.
2016 Chinese Panda coin
Currently, all Gold Panda Coins have a purity of 99.99, making them an ideal option for gold bullion investors. They are also available in a wide range of different denominations, depending on your investment requirements. Up until 2016, the gold Panda was produced in denominations ranging from 1oz to 1/20oz.
Now in metric…
This has now changed, however, and Panda Coins are currently being minted in metric system sizes instead. The reason for this change is purely down to the coins growing popularity with international investors. With many countries replacing the old troy ounce system with modern metrics, the People’s Republic of China felt they could capitalize on the coin’s widespread appeal by following suit. The new and updated coin sizes can be seen below:
- 1 oz coin is now 30 grams
- 1/2 oz coin is now 15 grams
- 1/4 oz coin is now 8 grams
- 1/10 oz coin is now 3 grams and
- 1/20 oz coin is now 1 gram
Since 1983 the Panda Coin has also been available in silver. Like the Gold Panda, the Silver Panda Coin’s design changes every year making them very collectable among investors.
The growing appeal of Panda Coins
Many astute investors believe Panda premiums could rise significantly over the coming years due to growing demand linked into China’s rise as an economic powerhouse. With their modest premiums, these coins can offer a viable bullion alternative. There is also a vast natural market for Panda Coins due to the growing amount of expatriate Chinese ethnics.
The obverse features the Temple of Heaven with Chinese characters on top saying “Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo” meaning the People’s Republic of China. If the issue is a commemorative issue of the Chinese Panda coin, the theme will be marked below.
Variety….
The Reverse shows different portraits of pandas that change every year, other than the one exception in 2002.
Whilst the value of gold and silver has been in continual fluctuation over the past few years, the value of Panda Coins has continually increased, and the market shows no signs of slowing down. Currently, Panda Coins are growing in value at a much higher rate than other bullion coins. This is partly due to the fact that they are comparatively relatively scarce, and also because they are only produced in fairly small mintages.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Britannia coins are the one-ounce British Bullion coins issued by the Royal Mint since 1987. Both proof and bullion versions have been issued every year to date and fractional versions are commonly available. The Britannia coin is available in either silver or gold and since 2013 has a purity value of 999.9. It is currently the largest, purest British legal tender coin available on the market.
Britannia coin
County: Great Britain
Face Value: £100 GBP
Gold Content: 1 ounce (31.104g) – Alloyed with copper or silver depending on year (pure from 2013)
Purity: 917 / 1000 (22 karat) (1987-2012) or 999.9/1000 (24 karat) (2013-)
Gross Weight: 34.0500 g (1987-2012) or 31.104g (2013-)
Coin Diameter: 32.69 mm (1987-2012) or 38.61mm (2013-)
First Year of issue: 1987
British coinage history
Britain has a long history of coinage. The first coins that were minted in Britain were Celtic ones around 80 BC. The first gold coins and silver coins in Britain were introduced by the Romans. The gold one was called ‘Aureus’ and the silver ‘Denarius’.
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Why Britannia?
The ‘Britannia’ first appeared on the coins of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in AD119. Britannia represents the strength of the British Isles in female form and she has been depicted as a goddess since the 2nd century. Over the years she has appeared on many coins including every penny issued from 1797 up until decimalisation and all 50p coins issued before 2008. Over the years the image of Britannia has changed with more of an emphasis being placed on her maritime links (She is often referred to as the Queen of the Seas) and images of her brandishing a spear have been replaced by those portraying her with a trident.
Bullion coin market growth
After the 80s saw significant growth in the global bullion market, the Royal Mint introduced Britannia coins to their bullion portfolio. Designed by Philip Nathan, the coin featured a new interpretation of Britannia that was powerful, yet elegant and it caught the imagination of the entire nation. Introduced in 1987, the coin made a worldwide impact and became a classic. Today, 30 years later, the classic design still remains the same – with a small addition. The new design displays a radial sunburst on her back.
The beautifully designed Gold Britannia
The Britannia – Europe’s premier modern coin
The Britannia coin is fast becoming Europe’s premier modern coin and is regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful coins. This coin is admired by collectors, dealers and investors from around the world, and is, therefore, one of the World’s most liquid coins.
With the face value of £100 UK Britannia coin is considered legal tender in Great Britain and it is therefore not subject to Capital Gains Tax when sold for a profit by UK residents. As the law currently stands you are required to pay CGT for any personal goods you have sold or made a profit on over the tax-free allowance rate of £11,300. As gold and silver Britannia’s are CGT exempt, however, you can sell as many as you want over the tax year without having to pay CGT.
Design features
The classic design featured on the 2018 1oz Britannia coin
displays a stroking image of a standing Britannia who is portrayed as a beautiful young woman, wearing a centurion’s helmet and holding her trident aloft. The reverse side of the coin features the most recent portrait of Queen Elizabeth II which was designed by Jody Clark of the Royal Mint and first introduced in 2015. Like previous editions of the Britannia coin, it has a purity of 999.9 and is created in 24 karat gold.
Britannia gold coins originally had a fineness of 91.7% or (22 karats) gold with the alloy being copper until 1989 and silver from 1990. The Royal Mint increased purity to 24 karats from 2013 to appeal to the ever-growing Asian market.
Collectable and with solid investment potential
These lovely 24 karat coins are an amazing investment for any numismatist or an investor. They are worth their weight in gold and have a purity of 999.9 since 2013. The 2018 edition is an excellent value for money and fitting addition to any coin collection. Investors on the other hand, who want to invest serious money in these coins as an investment in gold, would benefit from purchasing a large number of the coins. This is because it works out considerably cheaper to buy gold bullion in bulk rather than individual coins. The advantage of purchasing gold in small denominations such as a coin also gives the investor an advantage in terms of liquidity. At a later point in time, when the investor wishes to exit gold as an investment strategy, he need not dilute all his investments. He can simply sell the ones he wishes to and transfers a part of that investment to another asset class.
Britannia coins are also currently available in a range of different weights and denominations depending on the amount you wish to invest. These include 1/2, 1/4 and 1/10th troy ounce coins which have face values of £50, £25, and £10 respectively. Since 2013 two additional sizes of Britannia coin have been introduced – a 5-ounce coin and 1/20th ounce-coin. These have face values of £500 and £5.
Another reason to invest in Britannia Coins is that they present European and UK investors with the opportunity to purchase physical gold totally exempt from VAT. All of our Britannia coins are available to purchase VAT free and CGT exempt.
The Britannia is a prestigious coin, famous all over the world and makes an excellent companion to gold sovereign coins. It would make an excellent Christmas gift item for someone in the family or a loved one. So, as we can see, investing in a Britannia isn’t just about parking money and hedging risks. The coin is a true work of art and would make a fitting family heirloom to be passed down from one generation to the other. The coins come with their own case and are suitable for display as an outstanding work of art and a great symbol of British history. Call us on 020 7060 9992 to discuss how Physical Gold Limited may help you invest in the Britannia 2017.
1983 was an important year for British coinage. It was the year in which the British pound coin was minted and put into circulation to replace the Bank of England’s one pound note. The pound note saw its last issue at the end of 1984. The note continued to be in circulation until 11th of March 1988. On that date, it was removed from circulation.
Like all other UK banknotes, the pound note remained redeemable at the bank. But, for all official purposes, the pound note had been terminated and replaced with the British pound coin. Interestingly, the Royal Bank of Scotland continued the issue of pound notes. Similarly, the Channel Islands continued to use them as well. But the pound coin gained popularity and eventually became the more widely used form of currency. In this article, we will overview the history of the British pound coin.
1983 one pound coin with the Queen wearing a tiara
The purpose of issuing a pound coin
The main reason for the withdrawal of the 1 pound note was its longevity. The British one pound banknote survived in circulation for approximately 9 months only. The Royal Mint found out that after repeated usage, the pound notes would often end up being damaged, or defaced. A pound coin, on the other hand, could remain in circulation for 40 years or more. Therefore, on 31 July 1981, the government announced its intention to replace the one pound note with the one pound coin.
The design of the pound coin
The obverse of the pound coin bears a Latin inscription engraved on it. This inscription reads ‘Elizabeth II D G REG’. The abbreviation stands for the words “Dei Gratia Regina”. The entire inscription, when translated into English means “Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, Queen and Defender of the Faith”. Since the original release of the pound coin on 21 April 1983, four portraits of the Queen, each different from the other, have been used. The year of the mintage was also engraved alongside the Latin inscription.
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The first series of coins released in 1983 used a portrait of Queen Elizabeth the second, which had been created by designer Arnold Machin. This portrait appears on the obverse of the coin and features the Queen wearing a tiara. By 1985, a new portrait of the Queen was used, and it was created by Raphael Maklouf. In this portrait, the Queen is featured wearing the George IV State Diadem. This version of the pound coin was issued till 1997.
A one-pound banknote from Cyprus – 1955
The changing face of the pound coin
From 1998 to 2015, the design of the pound coin was changed yet again. This time, a new portrait created by Ian Rank-Broadley was used. Once again, the Queen’s portrait depicted her wearing a tiara. A makeover of the pound coin took place again in 2015. This time, well-known designer Jody Clark was commissioned to create the design. Her portrait of the Queen was introduced on the pound coin in 2015 and depicts the monarch wearing the George IV State Diadem.
The reverse of the pound coin had its design changed every year since 1983. This was done to ensure the complete representation of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as parts of the UK. Each year, the one pound coin would have a different emblem which represents each geographic area along with an inscription on the edge. The words, “one pound” can be found on the reverse of all these coins.
The new pound coin 2017
The new one pound coin has a 12 sided, bimetallic structure. This coin was released on 28 March 2017. A design competition was organised with participation from members of the public. This competition was unveiled in 2014 and the results, which were declared in March 2015 named a 15-year-old boy called David Pearce as the winner. The new design featured a rose, thistle, leek and a shamrock, ensconced by a crown.
The 12-sided one pound coin was introduced in 2017
Counterfeit coins
Unknown to many, as the round one pound coin gained popularity, counterfeiters took to duplicating this coin. By 2013, there was an estimated 3.04% of counterfeit coins in circulation. The geographical areas that had the maximum number of counterfeit coins were Northern Ireland, the South-East of England and the City of London. Coin testing companies were commissioned by the Royal Mint to study the problem. The coin testing professionals found out that the actual number was approximately twice that estimated by the Royal Mint.
Many times banks did not check the coins they are receiving. As a result, many banks were also inundated with counterfeit currency. The experts detected that many counterfeit coins had poor quality, along with marked visual differences in design. Of course, there were more sophisticated counterfeiters, that would require a specialised machine to detect.
The end of the round pound
The last batch of the British round one pound coins was minted in December 2015. The 12 edge coin that has replaced it is a bi-metallic coin whose design makes it harder to duplicate. The coin also has a concealed security feature, which is a code that becomes visible under a certain wavelength of ultraviolet light. There were a few other round pound coins in circulation as well, although these were never legal tender in the UK.
These coins were minted by the British Crown dependencies and Gibraltar, amongst others. They were identical to the one pound coin circulated in the UK and carried the same portraits of the British monarch. Some of these coins have remained in circulation, as these territories have not stopped the mintage of the coins or changed it.
To find out more about collectable UK coins, call Physical Gold
Physical Gold is one of the most reputed precious metal dealers in the UK. We also deal in precious coins and if you want to get an evaluation done, or wish to purchase specific coins of value, please call us on (020) 7060 9992. You can also contact us via email and a member of our customer service team will be happy to call you back.
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The American Eagle Coin
County: USA
Face Value: $50 USD
Gold Content: 1 ounce (31.104g) – Alloyed with Silver (3%) and Copper (5.33%)
Purity: 917 / 1000 (22 karat)
Gross Weight: 34.0500g
Coin Diameter: 32.7mm
First Year of issue: 1986
The American Eagle coin is a legal tender gold bullion coin of the United States and is an easy, convenient and affordable way to add to your gold portfolio. Authorised under the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985 the Eagle was first issued one year later with a face value of $50 USD. The American Eagle coin is the only gold coin whose quality and purity are guaranteed by the U.S. government. The US law dictates that the gold contained within the coin must come from sources in America.
Offered in 1/10 oz., 1/4 oz., 1/2 oz., and 1 oz. denominations, these coins are guaranteed by the U.S. government to contain the stated amount of actual gold weight in troy ounces. By law, the gold must come from sources in America, alloyed with silver and copper to produce a more wear-resistant coin.
The design of these coins is exactly the same as the one-ounce coins, except for the weight and value markings on the reverse. The series issued between 1986 to 1991 of the Gold Eagle has dates written with Roman numerals. However, this practice changed from 1992 onwards, and Arabic numbers were used to date Gold Eagles.
While these coins are generally accepted as legal tender by the US government, the intrinsic values of these coins are much greater than their face values. For example, the 2012 value of a $50 face value coin was as high as $1,835. Of course, these prices are heavily influenced by both market demand for the coins as well as the spot prices of gold.
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Silver American Eagles
It is important to note that the American Eagle coin is also available in silver. The silver versions of these coins are produced by three mints – Philadelphia, San Francisco, and West Point. Featuring designs on its front and back by Adolph A. Weinman and John Mercanti respectively, the silver eagle remains a popular choice for coin buyers across the world. The first Silver Eagle was created in San Francisco in 1986 and rose to popularity ever since.
In order to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Silver Eagle, the US Mint circulated a lacquered presentation set that contained five coins, one proof coin, and one uncirculated coin from West Point, along with many other valuable Silver Eagles from different locations across the US, where they were struck.
In a recent development, the US Mint has announced that the American Eagle would now be available in palladium. This is the fourth metal that the American eagle would be available in, the earlier three being gold, silver, and platinum. It would be the first-ever palladium coin to be issued on US soil. The coin has attracted global interest and has already notched premiums, well in excess of its face value.
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Gold and silver American Eagle coins are a popular choice for investors and buyers across the world. These prestigious coins make an excellent addition to an investment portfolio. In fact, the silver American Eagle can be added to a person’s IRR account (individual retirement Account) as an investment allowed by US law.
The obverse side of the coin features a rendition of Augustus Saint-Gaudens Lady Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in one hand and an olive branch in the other. The reverse of the coin features a design by sculptor Miley Busiek of a male eagle carrying an olive branch to his family. The motto, “In God We Trust”, appears to the right of, and beneath, the eagle’s wing. This motto has been featured on all U.S. gold coins since 1908.