Britannia Silver Coin 1 oz 2027 — the year with 30 hidden in the waves
The 1 oz Britannia Silver Coin King Charles III 2027 is a bullion coin from The Royal Mint containing 31.1035 g of 999 fine silver, with a face value of £2 and the portrait of King Charles III. The 2027 issue carries a wave privy mark showing the number 30, and the same number is worked into the textured background — The Royal Mint’s way of marking 30 years of the silver Britannia, issued since 1997. The coin is legal tender in the United Kingdom.
Technical specifications
| Parameter |
Value |
| Issuer |
The Royal Mint (United Kingdom) |
| Metal and fineness |
silver 999/1000 |
| Silver weight |
31.1035 g (1 troy ounce) |
| Diameter |
38.61 mm |
| Thickness |
3 mm |
| Face value |
£2 (GBP) |
| Year |
2027 |
| Obverse |
King Charles III — Martin Jennings |
| Reverse |
Britannia — Philip Nathan; “30” in the wave background |
| Security features |
latent image (padlock/trident), surface animation, tincture lines on the shield, micro-text |
| Status |
UK legal tender, exempt from UK Capital Gains Tax |
| Mint packaging |
tube of 25, box of 500 |
Why this coin
- The “30” privy mark and the number 30 in the wave texture — a feature of the 2027 year that regular issues do not carry.
- 31.1035 g of 999 fine silver — a weight that maps directly onto the silver spot price.
- Four optical security features, added to the series in 2021, checkable by eye and under a loupe.
- £2 face value and legal tender status in the United Kingdom.
- Reverse by Philip Nathan, whose Britannia has defined the series since 1987.
History of the Britannia series
The Royal Mint launched the Britannia in 1987 as a gold bullion coin. The silver version followed in 1997 and was initially struck in 958 silver, the historic Britannia standard. Since 2013 the silver Britannia has been 999 fine.
In 2021 the coin gained four optical security features, and after the change of monarch the obverse moved to King Charles III. 2027 is a double anniversary: 40 years of the gold Britannia and 30 years of the silver one. Gold coins of this year carry a wave privy mark with 40, silver coins one with 30.
Obverse — King Charles III by Martin Jennings
The obverse bears the official effigy of King Charles III by the British sculptor Martin Jennings. The £2 face value belongs to the one-ounce size only: the quarter ounce is 50p and the tenth ounce 20p. The face value is a legal designation; the coin’s worth comes from its silver content.
Reverse — Britannia and the anniversary number 30
Philip Nathan shows Britannia standing, with a shield for protection, an olive branch for peace and a trident for Britain’s association with the sea. On the 2027 coin, the waves behind the figure — which normally form the surface animation — are arranged so that the number 30 can be read in the background texture, alongside a wave privy mark with the same number.
Reverse security features: the latent image in the round field switches from a padlock to a trident as the viewing angle changes; the Union Flag on the shield is rendered with tincture lines; the micro-text DECUS ET TUTAMEN (an ornament and a safeguard) only becomes legible under magnification; the background waves appear to move.
What to check before buying
The number 30 is small and blended into the background texture, so low-resolution photos can hide it — when comparing with the 2026 coin, look at the waves and the privy mark. This is a bullion finish, not proof: light contact marks from tube storage are normal for the category. 999 silver can tone over time without any change to its silver weight. The CGT exemption applies to UK capital gains tax; buyers elsewhere follow their own national rules.
Why GoldInvest24
GoldInvest24 stocks silver bullion coins from state mints and silver bars from LBMA-accredited producers. Orders ship insured and in discreet packaging, and you can compare the coin’s silver value with the current silver price.
Britannia 2027 compared with popular 1 oz silver coins
| Coin |
Issuer |
Fineness |
Diameter |
Face value |
Silver issue since |
| Britannia 2027 |
The Royal Mint (UK) |
999 |
38.61 mm |
2 GBP |
1997 |
| Britannia 2026 |
The Royal Mint (UK) |
999 |
38.61 mm |
2 GBP |
1997 |
| Maple Leaf |
Royal Canadian Mint |
9999 |
37.97 mm |
5 CAD |
1988 |
| Vienna Philharmonic |
Münze Österreich |
999 |
37 mm |
1.50 EUR |
2008 |
| American Eagle |
United States Mint |
999 |
40.6 mm |
1 USD |
1986 |
The 2026 and 2027 Britannias share identical specifications — they differ in the date and in the number 30 in the privy mark and background.
FAQ — Britannia 1 oz 2027
How much silver does the 2027 Britannia 1 oz contain?
The coin contains 31.1035 g of 999 fine silver, one troy ounce. It measures 38.61 mm in diameter, is 3 mm thick and has a face value of £2.
What does the number 30 on the reverse mean?
The number 30 marks 30 years of the silver Britannia, issued by The Royal Mint since 1997. It appears in the wave privy mark and in the wave texture behind Britannia.
How does the 2027 Britannia differ from the 2026 coin?
Both coins share the same weight, fineness, diameter and portrait of King Charles III. The 2027 coin adds the anniversary privy mark 30 and a revised background texture containing that number.
How can I check that a silver Britannia is genuine?
Tilt the coin: the padlock in the round field should turn into a trident, and the waves behind Britannia should appear to move. Under a loupe the micro-text DECUS ET TUTAMEN is visible, and weight plus a 38.61 mm diameter complete the check.
Who designed the coin?
Philip Nathan designed the Britannia reverse, and the sculptor Martin Jennings created the portrait of King Charles III on the obverse.
Is the Britannia exempt from Capital Gains Tax?
In the United Kingdom, yes — as UK legal tender the coin is exempt from UK Capital Gains Tax. The exemption comes from British law; buyers in other countries follow their national tax rules.