Britannia gold coins were first minted in the year 1987 and they came in four sizes- 1 oz, ½ oz, 1/4th oz and 1/10th oz. These coins were introduced as competition to the immensely popular South African krugerrands that were in vogue since 1967. Classified as investment gold, the Britannia gold coin uses high grade 22 karat gold which makes it an excellent investment product. The Royal Mint of Britain mints these Britannia gold coins with 91.7% gold.
These coins are available in proof sets as well. These sets come in coin boxes that preserve the mirror finish and sheen of the gold for years to come. Collectors pay a premium for Britannia gold coins that have been preserved in such pristine condition. You can also find Britannia gold coins from the regular series with dealers.
Reverse and Obverse Design
The term ‘Britannia’, derived from Greek, denotes Great Britain. The island is personified as a young woman or goddess– who is acknowledged by the name of Britannia. On the coin’s reverse, Britannia is depicted wearing a centurion’s helmet and holding a spear with a shield propped alongside. In some coins, she holds a standard and is shown leaning on the shield. In others, Britannia is seated on a globe that is floating above waves. Britannia gold coins are the first coins to feature this Goddess since the days of the Romans.
The obverse of these coins features the Queen Elizabeth II. Older coins, minted during the years 1987 to 1997 are based on the third portrait of the Queen. From 1998 onwards the depiction of Her Majesty was based on the Fourth Portrait showing a more mature likeness of the monarch. The imagery on Britannia gold coins is quite impressive and intricate and this is another reason for this coin’s popularity among buyers.
Those seeking a unique design can buy Britannia gold coins from the 2011 series. In this series, the reverse shows the goddess in seated position. A Billowing Union Jack is superimposed so that it appears to be in front of her.
The Difference in Appearance
Although copper was used along with gold to produce British gold coins in this series originally, this practice was abandoned in 1990. Since this year, the gold has been alloyed with silver instead. This is the reason for the difference in the color tone of these coins from different periods. The older ones have a deeper burnished gold tone while the ones minted after 1990 have a lighter yellowish hue.
Original Packaging for Ease of Preservation
It is best to buy Britannia gold coins with the original packaging since this ensures that they can be preserved safely for years. The condition of the coin plays an important role in determining its pricing and coins in mint condition have great demand and attract the best prices. A reputed dealer should be able to offer a good choice of Britannia gold coins with the original plastic packaging from the Royal Mint. For a slightly larger investment you can choose the 5 coin sheets which are equally easy to preserve. You can also buy 25 coins and above in sealed packs from the Royal Mint. If you are willing to pay a premium for aesthetic appeal, then proof sets are a good choice too. These proof sets come in stylish boxes that can be used as display cases for the coins as well.
Pricing and Premiums
There may be differences in the prices offered by different dealers for Britannia gold coins. In addition to these variations, some types/ sizes of gold Britannias sell at a premium when compared with others. Typically, the fractional sizes of Britannia gold coins sell at higher premiums than the one ounce coins.
If you want to buy a single Britannia gold coin you may have to pay a significantly higher premium than on bulk purchases. In general, the fractional coins do not enjoy as much demand as the one ounce version of the Britannia gold coins. If you want to be able to sell the coin quickly in the future, buying a one ounce coin may be the better investment for you as it enjoys a larger market.
Identifying Reliable Sources for your Purchase
Today, buying Britannia gold coins is quite an easy task thanks to the number of online dealers who buy and sell various gold bullion coins. However, given the value of these coins it is imperative that you only choose a trustworthy dealer to transact with. You should buy British gold coins only from dealers who are certified to transact in such kinds of gold bullion. In addition, you can look for authorization from coinage grading organizations like the American Numismatic Association (ANA) or Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC). This ensures that the coins you buy from this dealer are authentic and conform to the quality advertised by him.