The 2026 The British Lion 1oz Gold Coin is a Royal Mint bullion coin in one troy ounce of 999.9 fine gold, featuring Britain’s heraldic lion and King Charles III on the obverse. 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 The British Lion 1oz Gold Coin design

For 2026, the second year of the range, David Lawrence’s heraldic lion returns with the Union Flag surface animation. The animation shifts as the coin moves, giving the design depth and making it harder to copy.

Martin Jennings’ portrait of King Charles III appears on the obverse.

A national emblem

The lion has been a royal emblem since the 12th century, and three lions still fill two quarters of the Royal Arms. The British Lion bullion range, launched by the Royal Mint in 2025, gives this national symbol a coin of its own.

2026 The British Lion 1oz Gold Coin specifications

Why buy a 2026 The British Lion 1oz Gold Coin?

The 2026 British Lion continues a young Royal Mint range, a logical continuation for anyone collecting from the 2025 first issue.

It gives you a full ounce of CGT-exempt gold with a patriotic design and a built-in security feature.

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

What is surface animation?

A minting technique that creates a pattern, here the Union Flag, which appears to move as the coin is tilted.

Is the British Lion coin CGT-exempt?

Yes. It is UK legal tender with a £100 face value, so gains are exempt from CGT for UK residents.