The British Gold Britannia

A Comprehensive Guide to the Gold Price

A Comprehensive Guide to the British Gold Britannia

Table of Contents ______

Introduction ...... 2

Dimensions and Physical Specifications ...... 3

Description and Design ...... 4

The Concept Of The Britannia ...... 5

History of the Gold Britannia ...... 6

Manufacturing and Mintage ...... 7

Authenticity and Government Guarantee ...... 8

Tax Exemptions on the Britannia ...... 9

Why Own Gold Britannias ...... 10

Contact GoldCore ...... 11

A Comprehensive Guide to the British Gold Britannia

Introduction ______

he Britannia is a one troy ounce gold coin minted The Britannia contains T exclusively by the British Royal Mint, one of the one troy ounce of gold world’s most prestigious national mints. Since its launch and is minted over twenty five years ago, the Britannia has become exclusively by the well known in the international gold market, and has British Royal Mint. been purchased by investors and collectors alike.

The most recent release of the Britannia in 2013 saw the Royal Mint move to a 99.99% pure gold version of the coin. The Britannia is legal tender in the UK and so is capital gains tax exempt for UK investors, and, since the Britannia meets the requirements for EU investment gold, it can be purchased free of VAT across the European Union.

2013 Gold Britannia Obverse 2013 Gold Britannia Reverse

A Comprehensive Guide to the British Gold Britannia

Dimensions and Physical Specifications ______

hen launched in 1987, the Britannia was W produced in the popular 22 carat gold Launched in 1987, the format known as crown gold. This consists of 22 Britannia was produced parts gold to 2 parts copper, giving a gold content of in the popular 22 carat 91.67%, or a millesimal fineness of 0.9167. From gold format known as 1990 to 2012, the 22 carat fineness was maintained crown gold. but the alloy was changed from copper to silver.

In 2013, the Royal Mint created a new Britannia specification, and increased the gold purity of the coin to 99.99%, or a fineness of 0.9999. This means that the weight of gold in the 2013 coin is now essentially identical to the coin’s total weight. Prior to 2013, the Britannia had a standard weight (including the alloy) of 34.05 grams, but given the 99.99% purity in the 2013 release, the coin now has a standard weight of 31.1035 grams. The 2013 Britannia has a diameter of 38.61 mm, a 2013 Gold Britannia thickness of between 1.58mm and 1.65mm, and reeded markings on the coin’s edge.

The Mint produces the Britannia in proof coin form for collectors, and bullion coin form, primarily for investors. The one ounce Gold Britannia is legal tender in the UK and has a face value of £100, the largest face value on any UK coin. The Royal Mint also produces fractional Britannia gold coins in half ounce, quarter ounce, and one-tenth ounce denominations with face values of £50, £25, and £10 respectively.

A Comprehensive Guide to the British Gold Britannia

Description and Design The reverse face of the 2013 coin features the well-known Britannia design by sculptor, Philip Nathan, created for the coin’s 1987 launch, and referred to as a “Standing Britannia’. In this design, the female figure of Britannia is portrayed in long flowing robes wearing a Corinthian helmet, while standing on a rock in the sea. The imagery is said to represent strength while alluding to Britain’s naval tradition. In her right hand 2013 Gold Britannia Reverse Britannia holds a trident, while her left hand, holding an olive branch, rests on a shield, representing both peace and protection.

Around the scene in a circular inscription are the words "ONE OUNCE FINE GOLD BRITANNIA" and the year of issue, 2013. In the outer circle, a repeated pattern of square indentations, known as a crenelated pattern, encircles the scene, alluding to battlements and fortifications. In tiny letting below the scene is the sculptor’s surname ‘NATHAN’.

The obverse face of the 2013 coin displays an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, which was created by sculptor, Ian Rank-Broadley. In a circular inscription around the head are the words" ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D." and the face value of "100 POUNDS". DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D. is an abbreviation for “Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensor” which in Latin means “By the Grace 2013 Gold Britannia Obverse of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith”.

The obverse also references Rank-Broadley’s name in the form of his initials, ‘IRB’ in tiny letting below the Queen’s portrait.

A Comprehensive Guide to the British Gold Britannia

The Concept Of The Britannia ______

‘Britannia’ is a Latin term first used by the Roman Empire to refer to that part of Britain that the Romans at one time controlled, and Britannia was represented on Roman coins as early as 119AD under Emperor Hadrian. These coins personified Britannia in female form to represent a conquered land of the Roman Empire. In the seventeenth century, the concept of ‘Britannia’ was revived in association with a Emperor Hadrian classically stylised Britannia as a female symbol of British strength and security. Notably, imagery of Britannia has appeared on coins issued under every British monarch since the seventeenth century. Today, the imagery of Britannia, probably more than any other, is synonymous with a unified British identity.

There have been a number of different Britannia images over the coin’s 26 year history. The original 1987 design was used every year until 1997 when a 10th anniversary design, again created by Philip Nathan, was introduced, which featured Britannia on a two-horse chariot, modelled after Boudicca, another figure from British classical antiquity. This design also featured on the 2009 coin. Additional coin designs, sometimes issued for a single year, feature diverse Britannia. Source: The Royal Mint imagery such as a close up Britannia head portrait design (2003), Britannia standing above another widely used British symbol, the lion (2001), Britannia seated with a lion (2004), and various designs such as in Britannia standing in waves (2008), another Britannia head portrait (2010), and Britannia with flag (2011).

A Comprehensive Guide to the British Gold Britannia

History of the Gold Britannia The idea for a Gold Britannia evolved from developments in the international marketplace, where it was noted by the UK Treasury that demand existed for a British one ounce British gold bullion coin that could compete with similar one ounce gold coins issued by the Canadian, U.S. and South Africa national mints. The South African Krugerrand, launched in the early 1970s, was the first one ounce gold coin on the market, and its widespread commercial success ignited international demand for a one ounce gold bullion coin. On this basis, the Royal Canadian Mint launched the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf in 1979. The U.S. Mint then entered the market launching its one ounce Gold Eagle in 1986, so it was not a surprise that the Royal Mint followed suit in 1987 with the launch of the Gold Britannia.

Officially, Queen Elizabeth II, via the Privy Council Office, directed the Mint to produce the Britannia in 1987. However, the new coin was formally announced by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer (and Master of the Mint), Nigel Lawson. The Mint held a competition for the coin’s design, where 52 designs by 14 designers were submitted for consideration. It was this Nigel Lawson competition that sculptor Philip Nathan won, when one of his design submissions was selected by the judging panel.

A Comprehensive Guide to the British Gold Britannia

Manufacturing and Mintage The Royal Mint is the world’s oldest mint, and The Royal Mint is the although founded in 1279, it can trace its history world’s oldest mint, and back over 1000 years. The Mint was located in the although founded in 1279, Tower of London until 1811, when it moved a it can trace its history back short distance up the road to Tower Hill. Another over 1000 years. more substantial move took place between 1968 and the mid-1970s, when the Mint relocated from Tower Hill, London, to Llantrisant in South Wales.

All Gold Britannia coins are produced at The Britannia Gold Bullion the Mint’s state of art facilities in Llantrisant coin is produced in where a recent investment programme in unlimited mintage each minting machinery was undertaken in year. preparation for 2012 London Olympic gold coin production. During the production process, one ounce gold coin ‘blanks’ are fed into a high precision coin press, and stamped a number of times on both sides, to create the resulting imagery.

The Britannia Gold Bullion coin is produced in unlimited mintage each year. Therefore, production each year depends on market demand, and also the ability of the Mint to source gold to meet this demand.

A Comprehensive Guide to the British Gold Britannia

Authenticity and Government Guarantee ______

The Royal Mint is exclusively authorised under British law to produce gold Britannia coins in accordance with the legal specifications set down in the Coinage Act. In addition, each year, the Royal Mint has to subject its coins to independent examination in a ritual known as the Trial of the Pyx.

The Trail of the Pyx takes place in Goldsmiths Hall in London and consists of a sample of every legal tender coin produced by the Each year, the Royal Royal Mint, be it precious metal or circulating Mint has to subject its coin, being tested by an independent panel of coins to independent judges. The tests are for metal composition examination in a ritual (including purity for gold and silver), correct known as the Trial of weight and diameter. Although the Trial is the Pyx. partially symbolic, it ensures that the Mint continues to adhere to exacting world class standards in its coin production.

A Comprehensive Guide to the British Gold Britannia

Tax Exemptions on the Britannia ______

Britannia Gold Bullion coins are exempt from Gold Britannia purchases value-added tax (VAT) throughout Europe, are exempt from value and are also exempt from capital gains tax added tax (VAT) across (CGT) for UK based investors. Therefore, a the European Union, and UK investor could purchase gold bullion sales of sovereigns are Britannia coins, avoid an initial tax on the exempt from capital purchase transaction, and also enjoy tax-free gains tax (CGT) in the UK. capital gains upon disposal.

The EU-wide VAT exemption applies to investment gold, and is based on a 1998 European Union Council Directive which was introduced to promote the use of gold as a financial instrument. In this context, investment gold is defined as both gold bars of .999 fineness or higher, and gold coins of .900 fineness or higher. The coins need to have been minted after 1800, and be, or have been, legal tender in their country of origin. Gold Britannia’s comply with the EU definition for VAT exemption since they are a) legal tender in the UK and b) have a gold content in excess of 90%.

Britannia gold coins meet the UK requirements for Capital Gains tax (CGT) exemption since a Britannia is legal tender under the Coinage Act, and is also sterling currency, with a face value of £100. Some non-UK gold coins are legal tender in their country of origin but fail the CGT test since they are not sterling currency. The only gold coins to meet the UK CGT requirement are the gold Britannia and the gold Sovereign and variants thereof. One ounce gold Britannia’s were deemed UK legal tender nature in 1987 in an amendment to the Coinage Act of 1971, subsequently amended most recently in 1998.

A Comprehensive Guide to the British Gold Britannia

Why Own Gold Britannias ______

The Britannia gold bullion coin is defined as investment gold and so is free of VAT within the EU. Additionally, being legal tender and sterling coinage, the Britannia is free of UK capital gains tax for UK taxpayers.

The gold Britannia is exclusively manufactured by the Royal Mint, one of the most highly-regarded mints in the world. Additionally, the Mint ultimately reports to the UK Treasury which stands over the coin’s authenticity.

Each year, the Mint’s coins, including the gold Britannia are independently verified for authenticity and accuracy.

The 2013 gold Britannia is 99.99% pure gold, offering the highest gold purity of any one ounce gold coin on the market. Therefore an investment in a 2013 Britannia is an investment in pure gold.

The Britannia is portable and easy to store due to its compact size, and the one ounce divisibility allows partial holdings to be traded if the need arises.

The Britannia contains exactly 1 troy ounce of gold and so is easy to value and price using the international real-time spot gold price.

Purchasing Britannia gold bullion coins is a low cost way of diversifying an investment portfolio via physical gold ownership.

Gold Britannias have protected individuals and families in recent years and throughout history and will do so again in the coming years.

A Comprehensive Guide to the British Gold Britannia

WRITTEN BY

GoldCore

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