The 2026 Britannia KCIII 1oz Gold Coin contains one troy ounce of 999.9 fine gold and features King Charles III on the obverse. Struck by the Royal Mint as UK legal tender with a £100 face value, it is exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents and VAT-exempt as investment gold.

The 2026 1oz Gold Britannia design

The one-ounce gold Britannia has been the Royal Mint’s flagship bullion coin since 1987. Philip Nathan’s standing Britannia, holding her trident and Union flag shield, has been refined over the years, most notably in 2021, when the Royal Mint added four security features developed by the team behind the 12-sided £1 coin.

The obverse shows King Charles III by Martin Jennings, the portrait that first appeared on bullion when the Royal Mint placed it on the 2023 Britannia, the first bullion coin in the world to carry the King’s official coin portrait.

Security features on the 2026 1oz Gold Britannia

• A latent trident-to-padlock image, a nod to Britannia’s naval history and to the coin’s security.
• Surface animation that brings the sea behind Britannia to life.
• The micro-text DECUS ET TUTAMEN, the same Latin motto once lettered on the edges of British coins, meaning ‘an ornament and a safeguard’.
• Tincture lines, the heraldic shading that highlights the Union flag on the shield.

2026 1oz Gold Britannia specifications

Why buy a 2026 1oz Gold Britannia?

The 2026 one-ounce Britannia combines a long-established design with the Royal Mint’s most secure bullion technology. It offers typically a lower premium per gram than fractional gold Britannias and a value that is easy to check against the gold price.

For UK investors, its CGT exemption is a clear advantage.

Why buy 1oz gold coins?

The one-ounce coin is the standard unit of the gold market. Because gold is priced per troy ounce, a 1oz coin’s metal value is simple to follow, and the larger size usually carries a lower premium per gram than fractional coins. Compared with a large bar, a holding of 1oz coins can still be sold a coin at a time, so you keep flexibility without paying fractional-coin premiums.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2026 1oz Gold Britannia legal tender?

Yes. It carries a £100 face value and is UK legal tender, which is why it is exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents. It is not intended for everyday spending.

How does a gold Britannia compare with a 1oz gold bar?

Both contain one troy ounce of fine gold and are VAT-exempt. The Britannia is also CGT-exempt for UK residents, while a bar usually has a slightly lower premium.