THE GOLD BRITANNIA COIN

The gold Britannia coin was first released by the Royal Mint in 1987. The coins are available in two finishes: bullion uncirculated and proof finish.

The coins were originally struck using 22-carat gold (0.9167 fine). In 2013 the Royal Mint switched to 24-carat gold (0.9999).

From 1987 to 1989, the coins were alloyed with copper (giving them a rose gold look), and between 1990 and 2012 they were alloyed with silver, giving a yellow-gold look.

Britannia first appeared on Roman coins in 119 AD, symbolising the female personification and protector of Britain. She first appeared on British coinage in 1672 on the Charles II farthing.

The standing Britannia design by sculptor Philip Nathan, is based on the Britannia image that was featured on the British Trade Dollars of the lare ninteenth century by engraver George William De Saulles.

MINTAGE NUMBERS

(1987 - 2023)

This is not a complete or definitive list of mintage numbers for gold Britannia coins between 1978 and 2023. Please contact us if you have details or additional figures you can add to this list. We are trying as much as possible to compile an accurate and complete breakdown for 1oz and 2oz BU and Proof gold coins.

1987 1oz PR

2,487 units + 10,000 4 coin sets.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with copper.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

1987 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with copper.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

__________

1988 1oz PR

626 units + 10,000 4 coin sets.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with copper.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

1988 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with copper.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

__________

1989 1oz PR

338 units + 10,000 4 coin sets.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with copper.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

1989 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with copper.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

__________

1990 1oz PR

262 units + 2,500 4 coin sets.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

1990 1oz BU

5,208 units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

__________

1991 1oz PR

143 units + 750 4 coin sets.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

1991 1oz BU

8,853 units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

__________

1992 1oz PR

500 4 coin sets.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

1992 1oz BU

8,012 units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

__________

1993 1oz PR

462 4 coin sets.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

1993 1oz BU

24,689 units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

__________

1994 1oz PR

435 4 coin sets.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

1994 1oz BU

14,497 units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

__________

1995 1oz PR

500 4 coin sets.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

1995 1oz BU

8,042 units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

__________

1996 1oz PR

483 4 coin sets only.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

1996 1oz BU

8,275 units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

__________

1997 1oz PR

164 units + 1,500 4 coin sets.
The Charioteer
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.
The 1997 issue of Britannias was marked by a change to a figure of Britannia standing whilst driving a two horse chariot in the manner of Boudicca (Boadicea) by Philip Nathan. This engraving was re-used on the 1999 and the 2009 silver and gold coins.

1997 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by ?

__________

1998 1oz PR

750 4 coin sets only
Britannia riding on a chariot.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by ?

1998 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by ?

__________

1999 1oz PR

750 4 coin sets only.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

1999 1oz BU

1,277 units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

__________

2000 1oz PR

750 4 coin sets.
Una & The Lion Britannia
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.
In the style of Queen Victoria's Una & The Lion, the 2001 Britannia coins show Britannia standing facing left with her back to the viewer holding her trident and shield with a lion at her side by Philip Nathan.

2000 1oz BU

750 sets only.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

__________

2001 1oz PR

1,000 4 coin sets only.
Britannia and Lion
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

2001 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

__________

2002 1oz PR

945 4 coin sets only.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

2002 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Raphael Maklouf.

__________

2003 1oz PR

1,250 4 coin sets only.
The Britannia Helmet
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.
In 2003, a new modernised engraving shows a close up helmeted head of Britannia with superimposed tessellated waves by Philip Nathan.

2003 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

__________

2004 1oz PR

973 4 coin sets only.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

2004 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

__________

2005 1oz PR

1,439 4 coin sets only.
The Seated Britannia.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.
Philip Nathan designed the 2005 left facing seated Britannia wearing a helmet and a gown which has an ornately embroidered hem. The engraving features a large olive branch to the left of the design.

2005 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley

__________

2006 1oz PR

1,163 4 coin sets.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

2006 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

__________

2007 1oz PR

1,250 4 coin sets.
The Wreath Britannia.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.
In 2007, this seated Britannia engraving by Christopher Le Brun shows Britannia facing right, holding an olive branch in her left hand and her trident in her right whilst resting against a tree. The watchful lion lies at her feet. A wreath encompasses half the design.

2007 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

__________

2008 1oz PR

1,250 4 coin sets.
The Seaside Britannia
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by John Bergdahl. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.
The 2008 Britannia was designed by engraver John Bergdahl. The left facing Britannia stands holding the trident in her right hand with the large shield held in front of her. The hem of her dress has been transformed into waves.

2008 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

__________

2009 1oz PR

797 4 coin sets.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

2009 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

__________

2010 1oz PR

1,250 4 coin sets.
The Profile Britannia
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Suzie Zamit. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.
The 2010 Profile Britannia engraving by Suzie Zamit is reminiscent of the head of Marianne as Ceres on the early twentieth French 20 Franc gold coins. Facing right, Britannia looks rather more gaunt than on previous reverses.

2010 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

__________

2011 1oz PR

1,000 4 coin sets.
The Union Jack Britannia
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by David Mach. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.
David Mach designed this stylish right facing, seated Britannia against a rippling Union Jack flag for the 2011 Britannia.

2011 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadle.

__________

2012 1oz PR

352 4 coin sets.
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

2012 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
22k gold alloyed with silver.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadle.

__________

2013 1oz PR

261 5 coin sets.
Britannia ans the Owl
24k gold.
Design by Robert Hunt. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.
Only available in proof finishes, the 2013 Britannia engraving by Robert Hunt features a seated Britannia looking to the right. The stylish rendition has an ancient Greek feel which is further endorsed by the addition of the owl. The owl symbolises wisdom, status, and wealth.

2013 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadle.

__________

2014 1oz PR

225 sets.
The Globe Britannia.
24k gold.
Design by Jody Clark. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.
Jody Clark's engraving for the 2014 proof Britannia range is a rather more glamourous design than any of the Britannia designs so far. This left facing Britannia is portrayed in a highly stylised pose with the trident in her left hand, the lion laid down at her feet against a backdrop of the globe. The uncirculated bullion coin features the classic standing Britannia.

2014 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadle.

__________

2015 1oz PR

238 sets
The Lighthouse Britannia
24k gold.
Design by Antony Duforts. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.
Antony Dufort's engraving for the 2015 Britannia proof coins display a left facing bust of Britannia wearing a plumed helmet holding the trident against her shoulder and the shield aloft. In the background stands a lighthouse in the distance and a sailing ship. Describing it as the Lighthouse Britannia might be a touch too much artistic licence, let us know if you have another suggestion.

2015 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadle.
Introduced in 2015, in 2015 and 2016 the uncirculated bullion Britannia coins in both gold and silver featured a dimpled background. This improvement was popular with collectors who were concerned at the amount of small scuffs and scratches which were visible on the 2014 and 2014 bullion coins, even when brand new.

__________

2016 1oz PR

174 sets only
The Warrior Britannia
24k gold.
Design by Suzie Zamit. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.
Suzie Zamit's 2016 Britannia engraving for the proof series features a right facing standing Britannia holding the trident in her left hand and resting the shield against her right side. The lion is lying at her far side. There is a considerable amount of detail in this design with an ornate helmet and many pleats and drapes in her gown.

2016 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadle.
Introduced in 2015, in 2015 and 2016 the uncirculated bullion Britannia coins in both gold and silver featured a dimpled background. This improvement was popular with collectors who were concerned at the amount of small scuffs and scratches which were visible on the 2014 and 2014 bullion coins, even when brand new.

__________

2017 1oz PR

250 sets only
30th Anniversary Design
24k gold.
Design by Louis Tamely. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.
The design for the 2017 Britannia Proof Coins by British artist, Louis Tamlyn has caused a great deal of debate. The artist has cleverly combined the figure of Britannia with the outline of Great Britain. The design encroaches into the inscription band as does the Union Jack background. The 30th anniversary trident privy mark and the artist's initials LWT are positioned to the right.

2017 1oz BU

? units
Bullion 30th Anniversary Design with Privy Edge.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadle.
In 2017, in addition to the uncirculated bullion coin, The Royal Mint issued an additional bullion coin featuring a trident privy mark on the reverse and a new guilloche design on the obverse. Even though it is only the silver Britannia that celebrates its 30th anniversary, both the gold and silver coins feature the same trident privy mark.
The guilloche is an ornamental feature used in the background behind the standing Britannia. It adds an extra layer of security against counterfeit coins.
Typically, the bullion Britannia coins are issued to an unlimited mintage, however, the 2017 30th Anniversary bullion coins were issued to limited mintages of 7,030 for the one ounce gold coin and 120,000 for the one ounce silver coin.

2017 1oz BU

? units
The Radiant Britannia (classic Britannia standing)
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadle.
The 2017 Britannia uncirculated coin featured the classic Britannia standing in front of a radiant sun. We had a little giggle when we first saw this, we'll leave you to decide whether it warranted a laugh or two.
The sunbeam design in the background helped to protect the field from scratching and also acted as a security feature as a deterrent to counterfeiters. We are pleased to say, there has been an improvement in the quality of the striking and hope that this continues.

__________

2018 1oz PR

220 sets only
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

2018 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadle.

__________

2019 1oz PR

150 sets only
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

2019 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadle.

__________

2020 1oz PR

150 sets only
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

2020 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadle.

__________

2021 1oz PR

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

2021 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadle.

__________

2022 1oz PR

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

2022 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadle.

__________

2023 1oz PR

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadley.

2023 1oz BU

? units
Classic Britannia standing with the trident.
24k gold.
Design by Philip Nathan. Queen's portrait by Ian Rank Broadle.