1 oz Britannia Charles III Gold Coin 2026 — third year with the new monarch's portrait
1 troy ounce of pure 999.9/1000 gold, struck by The Royal Mint at Llantrisant (Wales). The 2026 issue is the 39th annual edition of the Britannia series (since 1987) and at the same time the 3rd year with the portrait of King Charles III by Martin Jennings. Britannia is one of the four most globally popular gold bullion coins alongside the Krugerrand, Maple Leaf and Eagle. The face value of 100 GBP makes the coin legal tender in the United Kingdom.
Obverse — portrait of King Charles III
The obverse depicts the portrait of Charles III by sculptor Martin Jennings, officially approved by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee in 2022 after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Distinctive feature of the Jennings design: no crown — at the personal wish of the new monarch. Inscriptions: "CHARLES III · D · G · REX · F · D · 100 POUNDS · 2026".
Reverse — Britannia with trident and Union Jack shield
The reverse shows the canonical depiction of Britannia — the female personification of Great Britain — in classical robes with a trident in her right hand and a shield bearing the Union Jack in her left. Designed by Philip Nathan in 1987 — the composition has remained unchanged for 39 years, one of the most recognized numismatic motifs in the United Kingdom. The Royal Mint applies advanced security features: latent image (inscription "1OZ" / padlock changing with the angle of light), micro-text on the shield outline and a radial sunray pattern in the background for anti-counterfeiting protection.
Why buy the Britannia Charles III 2026 at GoldInvest24?
- Full 1 troy ounce (31.1035 g) of 999.9/1000 gold — since 2013 in 24K (previously 916.7/1000)
- 39th annual issue of the oldest British bullion series (since 1987)
- 3rd year with the new portrait of Charles III (after Britannia 2024 and 2025)
- Face value 100 GBP — highest among regular Royal Mint bullion coins, legal tender in the UK
- The Royal Mint — oldest operating mint in Great Britain (886 years, since 1136), LBMA Good Delivery
- Advanced security features: latent image, micro-text, radial sunray pattern
- Global recognition and high secondary-market liquidity (top-4 worldwide)
- Britannia design by Philip Nathan unchanged since 1987 — symbol of British minting tradition
- Standard packaging in protective capsule
- VAT-exempt across the EU as Investment Gold (Council Directive 2006/112/EC)
- Exempt from UK Capital Gains Tax (CGT) as legal tender
- Ideal exposure to British pound (GBP) — currency diversification
- Ideal component of the "Britannia Charles III Series 2024-2026+" collection
- Authenticity verification at GoldInvest24 — guaranteed originality
Historical context — the Britannia of Charles III
The Britannia Charles III was introduced in 2024, after a two-year transition period (2023 saw the issue of commemorative coins with a dual portrait of Elizabeth II/Charles III). Introducing the new portrait required updating all Royal Mint dies — a process completed in Llantrisant in 2023. The 2026 issue is the third full "Charles III year" in bullion striking, making it attractive to collectors building a complete series "from the new monarch's first issue". The Royal Mint introduced a new security feature in 2024 — a latent image with the inscription "1OZ" turning into a padlock when the angle of light changes. Very difficult to counterfeit and significantly raising the real security value of the coin in an investment portfolio.
Technical specification
| Manufacturer |
The Royal Mint, Llantrisant (Wales, UK) |
| Accreditation |
LBMA Good Delivery |
| Country of issue |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| Series |
Britannia (since 1987) |
| Year of issue |
2026 (39th annual, 3rd with Charles III portrait) |
| Metal |
Gold Au |
| Fineness |
999.9/1000 (24K, since 2013) |
| Weight |
1 oz t = 31.1035 g |
| Diameter |
32.69 mm |
| Thickness |
2.79 mm |
| Face value |
100 GBP |
| Strike |
Bullion (BU) |
| Legal status |
Legal tender in the UK |
| VAT |
Exempt (EU Investment Gold) |
| UK CGT |
Exempt |
| Packaging |
Protective capsule |
| Obverse |
Portrait of King Charles III (designed by Martin Jennings, 2022) |
| Reverse |
Britannia with trident and Union Jack shield (designed by Philip Nathan, 1987) |
| Security features |
Latent image, micro-text, radial sunray pattern |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How does Britannia Charles III 2026 differ from earlier issues?
The obverse has been updated — instead of the portrait of Elizabeth II it now bears the portrait of Charles III by Martin Jennings (since 2024). The reverse by Philip Nathan from 1987 remains unchanged. All advanced security features (latent image, micro-text, sunray) are retained.
How much gold does the coin contain?
Exactly 1 troy ounce (31.1035 g) of pure 999.9/1000 gold. Since 2013, all Britannias have been struck in 24K (previously 22K = 916.7/1000).
What is "latent image" and what does it do?
Latent image is an inscription "1OZ" that turns into a padlock when the angle of light hitting the coin changes. An advanced anti-counterfeiting security feature introduced by the Royal Mint, very difficult to reproduce.
Is the coin VAT- and CGT-exempt?
Yes. VAT-exempt (EU Investment Gold) and exempt from UK Capital Gains Tax as legal tender.
What is the face value of the Britannia and does it matter?
Face value 100 GBP — the highest among regular British bullion coins. Legal-tender status facilitates export, inheritance and cross-border trade.
Will the Britannia design change in the future?
The Royal Mint maintains the Philip Nathan design from 1987 as canonical for the bullion version. For bullion we expect continuation of the current design.
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Order the 1 oz Britannia Charles III 2026 — 39th issue of Britain's flagship bullion coin with the portrait of the new monarch.
