1 oz The Royal Arms Gold Coin | 2026

The Royal Arms 1 oz 2026 — the coat of arms of King Charles III with the Tudor Crown

The 2026 edition of The Royal Arms contains one troy ounce of 999.9 fine gold (31.1035 g), with a £100 face value and a 32.69 mm diameter. What changes is the reverse: in place of the arms as used under Elizabeth II, The Royal Mint now shows the coat of arms of King Charles III with the Tudor Crown, in a new rendering by heraldic artist Timothy Noad. The mint describes this as the debut of King Charles III's arms on a bullion coin and limits the mintage to 5,000 coins.

Technical specification

Why this coin

• A new version of the arms — 2026 opens the Charles III chapter of the series; the 2019-2025 issues carried the arms of Elizabeth II.
• The Tudor Crown above the shield and on the head of the lion supporter replaces St Edward's Crown and is the quickest way to recognise the year.
• Mintage of up to 5,000 coins worldwide, according to The Royal Mint.
• 24 carat gold — 31.1035 g of fine gold at 999.9, with no alloying metals.
• British currency — the £100 face value makes the coin legal tender, so a gain on its sale is free of Capital Gains Tax in the UK.

The Royal Arms series: from the arms of Elizabeth II to those of Charles III

The Royal Mint launched The Royal Arms gold ounce in 2019 as an alternative to the Britannia among its 1 oz gold bullion coins. Timothy Noad has designed the reverse from the start; the first issues carried the Elizabeth II portrait by Jody Clark on the obverse.

For seven years, 2019-2025, Noad depicted the arms as used during the reign of Elizabeth II. The 2024 and 2025 coins already paired them with the portrait of Charles III, and the mint announced 2025 as the last year for that interpretation. Following the accession of Charles III a new Royal Coat of Arms was unveiled — also drawn by Noad — and in 2026 it moved onto the reverse. The 2026 Royal Arms 1 oz silver coin carries the same design.

Obverse — Charles III by Martin Jennings

The obverse bears the official coinage portrait of King Charles III by British sculptor Martin Jennings. The effigy sits on a guilloche background — a fine ornamental line pattern — and the legend gives the monarch's name and titles together with the face value of 100 POUNDS. The obverse is unchanged from 2024 and 2025; the difference in the 2026 coin lies entirely on the reverse.

Reverse — the arms of Charles III by Timothy Noad

The reverse shows the full Royal Arms of the United Kingdom on a radial background. Each element has its own origin:

• Quartered shield — the three lions of England in the first and fourth quarters, the red lion of Scotland in the second and the harp of Ireland in the third. Wales has no quarter of its own because Henry VIII made it part of the realm of England in 1536.
• The Garter around the shield, with the motto of the Order of the Garter HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE — evil to him who evil thinks.
• Supporters — the lion of England and the unicorn of Scotland on either side.
• The Tudor Crown — in the arms of Charles III it replaces St Edward's Crown, used in the arms under Elizabeth II.
• The royal motto DIEU ET MON DROIT — God and my right — at the base, among floral emblems.

What to consider before buying

• The crown tells you the year. The 2019-2025 coins show St Edward's Crown above the shield, the 2026 coin the Tudor Crown. When buying on the secondary market, check it alongside the date.
• The mintage limit is not new. The Royal Mint quoted a 5,000-coin limit for the 2025 issue as well. What sets 2026 apart is the coat of arms, not the limit — the gold content matches every ounce in the series.
• Year and price. A specific year usually carries a higher premium than mixed-year Royal Arms coins. The extra cost is for the date and the version of the arms, not for more gold.
• The CGT exemption is British. It applies to people who pay tax in the United Kingdom; buyers from Poland or elsewhere are subject to their own rules on taxing disposals.
• Thickness and packaging. Sources quote conflicting thickness figures for this coin, so we do not publish one — check the coin by weight and diameter. The Royal Mint lists a single coin capsule, while trade distribution supplies the coins in plastic sleeves, ten to a tube.

Why GoldInvest24

We offer our full range of gold coins from The Royal Mint and other mints. Shipments are insured and packed discreetly.

The Royal Arms 2026 compared with other gold ounces

The three Royal Mint coins share fineness, face value and diameter and differ only in the reverse. The Krugerrand holds the same troy ounce of fine gold but in a 22 carat alloy, so it is heavier and has no face value. The Maple Leaf is 24 carat gold with a smaller diameter.

Frequently asked questions

How much gold does The Royal Arms 1 oz 2026 contain?

Exactly 31.1035 g of 999.9 gold — one troy ounce with no alloy. The coin measures 32.69 mm across and carries a £100 face value.

How does the 2026 coin differ from earlier Royal Arms years?

In the reverse. The 2019-2025 coins showed the arms as used under Elizabeth II with St Edward's Crown, while 2026 carries the arms of King Charles III with the Tudor Crown. Weight, fineness, diameter and face value are unchanged.

Who designed the coin?

The reverse arms were drawn by heraldic artist Timothy Noad, who has designed the series reverse since 2019. The portrait of King Charles III on the obverse is by sculptor Martin Jennings.

What is the mintage?

The Royal Mint states a maximum mintage of 5,000 coins worldwide. The mint gave the same limit for the 2025 issue.

What do the inscriptions on the reverse mean?

HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE is the motto of the Order of the Garter — evil to him who evil thinks. DIEU ET MON DROIT is the motto of the British monarch — God and my right.

Is VAT charged on this coin?

No. The coin meets the conditions of the exemption for gold coins and is VAT-exempt under EU Directive 2006/112/EC. UK Capital Gains Tax is a different tax — it concerns the gain on a sale and only UK taxpayers.

What determines the price of this coin?

The base is the current price of one troy ounce of gold, plus a margin for the specific year and version of the arms. You can work out the metal value from the quotes on our gold price page.