The UK Britannia coin is a bullion coin issued in gold and silver by the Royal Mint. The Britannia gold coin is issued in one-tenth, one-quarter, one-half, and one troy ounce. The respective face values of these coins are £10, £25, £50, and £100. They contain gold of 91.7 percent fineness, which is equivalent to 22-karat gold. The remainder of the coin was comprised of copper through 1989 and then silver from the year 1990 to present.
The 2010 UK Britannia gold coin contains a new design on the reverse. It depicts a profile of Britannia from the point of view of artist Suzie Zamit. The face of the coin contains a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II done by Ian Rank-Broadley. These coins are considered legal tender within the United Kingdom but proof versions are also produced in limited quantities.
Britannia is a personification of the land and first appeared on coins that circulated in Britain during Roman times. However, she did not appear on official British coins until 1672. She is considered a key symbol of Britain and the way she has appeared on the coins has changed over the years.
The Royal Mint, a government entity, sells proof versions of these coins either singly or as a set of three or four. The full set of the four highest denomination coins of Britain sells for £2,500. The issue limit for this collection is 1,250 sets, making it rare and valuable to investors. Individuals who buy gold coins should add the UK Britannia to their collection because it is likely to increase in value in the future.
Coin collectors and investors can find proof versions of Britannia gold coins depicting every year since the initial issuance 1987. However, it may require some serious shopping because some dealers have sold out of certain years due to the rarity of these coins. Britannias are usually released in the spring or summer of the year of issue and individuals should purchase them as soon as they come out.