1 oz The Angel 2026 — gold coin by The Royal Mint, 31.1035 g Au 999.9, series inspired by the historic Angel coins from 1465
31.1035 g of fine gold at 999.9/1000 fineness (1 troy ounce) in the form of a bullion coin struck by The Royal Mint — the United Kingdom's Royal Mint based in Llantrisant, Wales, in continuous operation for over 1,100 years. The Royal Mint holds LBMA Good Delivery accreditation and produces circulation, bullion and collector coins for over 30 countries. The Angel series draws on the historic English Angel coins, first struck in 1465 under King Edward IV — for over two centuries one of the most important gold denominations in England. Face value £100 — legal tender in the United Kingdom. For more gold coins, browse the full selection at GoldInvest24.
The current edition The Angel 2026 revives the classic motif of Archangel Michael in a modern fineness standard — 999.9/1000 (four nines fine gold). The 1 oz format (31.1035 g) with a diameter of 32.69 mm is the standard troy ounce — the most liquid and widely traded format on the global precious metals market. Royal Mint coins with a GBP face value are exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in the United Kingdom. Current precious metals prices are available on the Precious metals prices page.
Technical specification
| Parameter |
Value |
| Product type |
Gold bullion coin |
| Issuer / mint |
The Royal Mint (Llantrisant, Wales, United Kingdom) |
| Series |
The Angel |
| Year of issue |
2026 |
| Country of issue |
United Kingdom |
| Precious metal |
Gold (Au) |
| Fineness |
999.9/1000 (.9999) |
| Weight (Au content) |
31.1035 g (1 troy ounce) |
| Diameter |
32.69 mm |
| Face value |
£100 (pound sterling) |
| Obverse |
Portrait of King Charles III — Martin Jennings (from 2022) |
| Reverse |
Archangel Michael slaying the dragon |
| Edge |
Reeded |
| Legal status |
Legal tender — United Kingdom |
| CGT |
Exempt in the UK (coin with GBP face value) |
| VAT |
VAT-exempt (EU Directive 2006/112/EC) |
Why 1 oz The Angel 2026
The 1 oz format (31.1035 g) is the most liquid and widely traded format on the global gold market — accepted by dealers, exchanges and institutions worldwide. The Angel series revives one of England's oldest and most recognisable coin motifs — Archangel Michael with sword slaying the dragon. The coin combines a 999.9 fineness standard with the historical significance of a series spanning over 560 years of tradition (since 1465). The £100 face value ensures CGT-free status in the United Kingdom. The Royal Mint — over 1,100 years of history, producer of Britannia, Sovereign and Queen's Beasts — guarantees the highest striking quality and global recognition. The 1 oz format offers the optimal ratio of premium to precious metal content — lower than fractional sizes (1/4 oz, 1/10 oz).
History of The Angel series — from Edward IV to the present
The Angel coin first appeared in 1465, introduced by King Edward IV as a gold denomination worth 6 shillings and 8 pence (one-third of a pound). The name derives from the reverse motif — Archangel Michael (the angel) slaying the dragon, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The Angel quickly became one of England's most popular gold coins, struck continuously by successive monarchs: Edward V, Richard III, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, Elizabeth I and James I. Production of the historic Angels ceased in the early 17th century under Charles I.
Historic Angels served a special ceremonial function — English monarchs presented them as so-called touch pieces during the ritual of "Royal Touch", in which the sovereign's touch was believed to heal scrofula (tuberculosis of the lymph nodes). Receiving a gold Angel from the king was considered an act of miraculous healing. This tradition gave Angel coins a unique status — not only monetary but also religious and therapeutic. The current edition The Angel 2026 revives this historic motif in the modern fineness standard of 999.9/1000, continuing the over 560-year tradition of one of the most important coin series in British numismatic history.
Obverse — portrait of King Charles III
The obverse of the 1 oz The Angel 2026 features the official portrait of King Charles III, reigning since 8 September 2022. The portrait was designed by Martin Jennings — a British sculptor and medallist whose design was selected by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee and approved by the monarch. Charles III is depicted bareheaded, facing left — in keeping with the tradition of alternating the direction of the portrait with each new monarch (Elizabeth II faced right). Around the portrait are the royal title, the £100 face value and the year of issue 2026. The Martin Jennings portrait has been used on all Royal Mint coins since 2022, replacing the earlier portrait of Elizabeth II by Jody Clark (2015–2022).
Reverse — Archangel Michael slaying the dragon
The reverse of The Angel 2026 depicts Archangel Michael in armour, sword raised above his head, vanquishing the dragon (Satan) — a scene referencing the Book of Revelation (Revelation 12:7-9). This motif is a direct reference to the historic Angel coins, on which this scene appeared continuously from 1465. Archangel Michael is one of the most important figures in Christian, Jewish and Islamic tradition — commander of the heavenly host, defender of the faith and patron saint of soldiers. The reverse also shows the weight (1 oz), fineness (999.9) and series name.
What to look for
The 1 oz The Angel 2026 coin should be delivered in original Royal Mint packaging. At 999.9/1000 fineness, the coin weight corresponds exactly to the fine gold content — 31.1035 g. The 32.69 mm diameter is comparable to other 1 oz bullion coins (Britannia: 32.69 mm, Maple Leaf: 30 mm, Krugerrand: 32.77 mm). The Angel is a separate series from Britannia and Sovereign — differing in motif, history and numismatic context. Coins with a GBP face value from The Royal Mint are exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in the UK.
Why GoldInvest24
GoldInvest24 specialises in the sale of coins and bars from leading mints and refineries with LBMA accreditation. Every Royal Mint coin is delivered in original manufacturer packaging. Shipping is via insured courier in discreet packaging with no markings indicating the contents. Current precious metals prices: Precious metals prices. Gold coins: Gold investment coins. Gold bars: Gold bullion bars.
Comparison of 1 oz gold coins
| Coin |
Mint |
Fineness |
Au content |
Face value |
| The Angel 1 oz |
The Royal Mint |
999.9 |
31.10 g |
£100 |
| Britannia 1 oz |
The Royal Mint |
999.9 |
31.10 g |
£100 |
| Maple Leaf 1 oz |
Royal Canadian Mint |
999.9 |
31.10 g |
C$50 |
| Vienna Philharmonic 1 oz |
Münze Österreich |
999.9 |
31.10 g |
€100 |
| Krugerrand 1 oz |
South African Mint |
916.7 |
31.10 g |
— |
Frequently asked questions
What is The Angel series from The Royal Mint?
The Angel is a coin series from The Royal Mint inspired by the historic English Angel coins, first struck in 1465 under King Edward IV. The original Angels were gold denominations worth 6 shillings and 8 pence, featuring Archangel Michael on the reverse. The current 2026 edition revives this motif in the 999.9/1000 fineness standard.
How much gold does the 1 oz The Angel 2026 contain?
The coin contains 31.1035 g of fine gold at 999.9/1000 fineness — exactly 1 troy ounce. The troy ounce is the global standard for gold valuation on international markets. At 999.9 fineness, coin weight and fine gold content are virtually identical.
What were historic touch pieces?
Touch pieces were gold Angel coins presented by English monarchs during the "Royal Touch" ritual — a ceremony in which the sovereign's touch was believed to cure scrofula (tuberculosis of the lymph nodes). Receiving a gold Angel from the king was regarded as an act of miraculous healing. This tradition gave Angel coins a unique religious and ceremonial status beyond their monetary value.
Is The Angel coin VAT-exempt?
Yes. Gold coins with a fineness of at least 900/1000 are exempt from VAT throughout the European Union under Directive 2006/112/EC. The Angel 2026 has a fineness of 999.9/1000 and therefore qualifies for the exemption.
What does CGT-free mean for Royal Mint coins?
CGT (Capital Gains Tax) is a UK tax on profits from asset disposals. Coins with a GBP face value issued by The Royal Mint as legal tender are exempt from CGT — any profit from sale is not subject to tax in the UK. This applies to the Britannia, Sovereign and Angel series among others.
How does The Angel differ from Britannia?
Both series are struck by The Royal Mint at 999.9 fineness with a GBP face value and CGT-free status. They differ in motif: The Angel features Archangel Michael slaying the dragon (tradition from 1465), while Britannia depicts the personification of Britain with trident and shield (tradition from 1672). Britannia is a mass-produced bullion series, while The Angel has a more collector-oriented numismatic character. Both in 1 oz format contain 31.1035 g of fine gold.
Who designed the Charles III portrait on the obverse?
The portrait of King Charles III was designed by Martin Jennings — a British sculptor and medallist. The design was selected by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee and approved by the monarch. It has been used on all Royal Mint coins since 2022, replacing the earlier portrait of Elizabeth II by Jody Clark (2015–2022). Charles III is depicted bareheaded, facing left.
