Obverse
Martin Jennings' portrait of King Charles III, facing left. Legend around reads: 'CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 100 POUNDS ·'.
Reverse
Standing Britannia design by Philip Nathan: female figure wearing a helmet and flowing robes, holding a trident, shield and olive branch. Latent image to the bottom left and microtext around. Wave background. The legend reads: 'BRITANNIA · 2023 · 1oz · 999.9 · FINE · GOLD'.
Specification
UK bullion coin from The Royal Mint, struck in 31.11 grams of 999.9 gold. Actual gold weight: one troy ounce or 31.10 grams. Diameter: 38.61 millimetres. Face value: £100 / One Hundred Pounds.
What Are Royal Mint Britannias?
The personification of the United Kingdom, Britannia, first appeared on Roman coins, struck during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. Her image was revived for the coinage of Charles II. Since then, she's been a feature on the coins of every British monarch, a powerful symbol of national identity. You may recognise her from the tails side of old 50ps and new £2s.
Read more: Britannia On British Coins.
Taking the form of a warlike goddess, Britannia has ruled over her own range of Royal Mint bullion coins since 1987. Initially, Britannias were only available in gold, but silver editions, fractional coins and even platinum examples have also been added to the roster over the years. Usually, Britannias are issued only once a year with limited proof editions and special designs available for collectors as well as a wide range of bullion coins.
This year is unusual in that two separate 2023-dated Britannia ranges have been issued, marking the passing of Her Majesty the Queen and the accession of her son, King Charles.
New King Charles III Coin Portrait
These 2023 Britannias are the first to feature an image of King Charles III. Since they were first issued these coins have only shown Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse so this issue is truly special.
The new royal portrait was designed by British sculptor Martin Jennings. His bust of King Charles looks left, following a long-held tradition of UK coinage where monarchs face the opposite direction to their predecessor. This is the definitive portrait of Charles that we'll soon start seeing on our change but it looks great on these bullion coins against a textured background.
Phillip Nathan's Standing Britannia
The reverse of these 2023 Royal Mint coins shows Philip Nathan's classic 'standing Britannia' design, created when the range was introduced. The sculptor has designed several alternate reverses for the Britannia series as working on other UK Royal Mint coins and a range of medals.
Nathan's iconic Britannia faces into a sea wind that blows back her flowing robes. She's wearing a helmet and holding a trident and shield, a nod to her symbolic role in defending Britain's shores. The sprig of olive leaves she grasps in her left hand balances action with peace. It's an instantly recognisable design that's become synonymous with these coins.
Innovative Britannia Security Features
There are four innovative features on the reverse of 2023 Charles III Britannias, designed to make them difficult to counterfeit.
- Surface Animation: Wave textured background brings the image to life
- Microtext Detail: Tiny lettering around the design reads ''DECUS ET TUTAMEN'
- Tincture Lines: Spy these on Britannia's Union flag shield
- Latent Image: Displays a padlock or a trident, depending on how the coin is viewed
These modern, cutting-edge additions are both protective and decorative, contrasting appealingly with the historic subject who lends her name to this range.
Are Britannias A Good Investment?
These 2023 Britannias are designed for investors and are highly tax efficient. They're Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exempt as UK legal tender, meaning you don't pay on profits accrued when it comes time to sell. Gold Britannias are also VAT exempt for UK and EU buyers.
Modern Britannia's are made from the finest precious metals with the current specifications requiring 24-carat (99.99%) gold and 999 (99.9%) silver. Britannias struck before 2013 were made from a slightly different alloy but still contained the same amount of pure gold and silver.
Britannias have been on the market for decades and they've developed a global reputation as a trusted bullion coin, backed up by the prestige of their manufacturer: the UK's Royal Mint who have been striking coins for more than a millennia. Coin and precious metal buyers will recognise Britannias, making your sale simple when it's time to divest.
The 2023 Charles III Britannia Range
We've got limited stock of a range of 2023 King Charles Britannias, including:
Steeped in more than 1,100 years of history, The Royal Mint supplies all of the United Kingdom's coinage as well as currency for nations around the world. Renown for craftsmanship and thoughtful design, The Royal Mint also produces commemorative coins, favoured by investors and collectors.
A Millennia of Minting
Founded in the reign of Alfred the Great, around the year 886, The Royal Mint was originally one of several mints which were centralised to London in 1279. For more than 800 years the Mint was based at the Tower of London before moving to Royal Mint Court where it remained until the 1960s.
The Royal Mint has always been on the forefront of economic, technical and artistic innovation. Its skilled craftsmen minted coins that would reach the far corners of the British Empire, establishing the image and reputation of Britain for all whose pockets they ended up in.
In 2010 The Royal Mint became a limited company owned by Her Majesty’s Treasury. In recent years the Mint has struck medals for the 2012 London Olympic Games and opened a visitor centre, The Royal Mint Experience, in Llantrisant, Wales: the current home of The Royal Mint.
Collecting and Investing
The Royal Mint's commemorative and bullion coins – often minted to mark important national events and anniversaries – are not intended for circulation. They might look like ordinary coins but they are generally worth much more, thanks to their scarcity, finish and composition.
Most commemorative coins produced by The Royal Mint are available in a range of striking standards including Gold Proof, Silver Proof, Brilliant Uncirculated and Bullion. Some are also available in collectors sets. Gold and Silver Proof coins are minted in small numbers, making them rare and desirable.
The Royal Mint's commemorative coins are both VAT-free and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exempt, making them an attractive and valuable investment. Whether you are diversifying your investments or simply appreciate world-class design, commemorative coins from The Royal Mint are a great buy.
The Royal Mint at The Britannia Coin Company
The Britannia Coin Company is proud to stock official commemorative coins from The Royal Mint as well as a wide range of historic Royal Mint coinage. We offer unbeatable value on The Royal Mint coins, backed by our reputation for honesty and integrity, built over more than a decade of trading.
Buy and sell coins with confidence when you use The Britannia Coin Company of Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire.
Buy Collectable Coins Online
We offer a wide range of collectable and investment coins in pre-owned and brand-new condition. As our name suggests, we focus on British coins (from hammered metal-detecting finds to modern Royal Mint issues) with a healthy selection of pieces from international mints too. All the coins we sell are 100% guaranteed authentic and, where relevant, are individually certified.
The Britannia Coin Company is part of the Gold-Traders group, founded in 2008. We're members of the British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA) and pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity and expertise.
You're guaranteed a fully protected service when you buy online with The Britannia Coin Company. Our payment process is fully encrypted, preventing unauthorised access to your personal and financial details. Check your browser bar for the trusted padlock symbol: it's a mark of security.
Free And Insured UK Shipping
The price of all our coins includes free, fully insured UK shipping.
We post most orders within one to three working days of receipt. Please check individual product pages for accurate delivery estimates.
We deliver internationally. All payments are to be made in Pounds Sterling. We have a flat rate international shipping charge of just £15. See our dedicated delivery page for exceptions and further information.
Sell Your Coins With Confidence
Our experts want to make selling your coins a stress-free experience. They're ready to provide transparent valuations for your old coins: whether that's an individual piece or a large collection.
The team buys thousands of coins every month via our postal valuation service. It's a safe and easy way to sell coins from home with payment via bank transfer available the same day you confirm our price.
If you'd prefer to visit us in person, we've got secure, private meeting rooms in our offices at 29 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7AE. We recommend calling ahead to book an appointment or check out one of our specialist drop-in valuation days.
Visit Our Wiltshire Showroom
If you're looking for a bargain then why not visit our showroom? We've got lots of great discount coins available in our cabinets at Old Bank Antiques.
From circulating £2s and 50ps to world coins, commemorative sets and new releases to ancients, we've got something for everyone. Make sure you save time to browse the glass, ceramics, jewellery, clocks and militaria on display in the rest of the shop, located at 143 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 7AB.
You won't find our full range on display in our showroom but if there is something particular you would like to examine then please do get in touch. We're pleased to arrange a private viewing appointment at a time that suits you.
Contact Our Coin Experts Now
Got questions about buying or selling coins? Our friendly team of numismatists (coin experts) are ready to assist with valuations, offers, postage enquiries, and more.
Call our enquiries line on 01793 205 007 (open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Drop us a line at coins@britanniacoincompany.com.
Message us using our live chat feature (that's the green button, found at the bottom right of this page).
Visit us at 29 High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, SN4 7AB (we recommend checking our location map before you set out).
