The 2023 Britannia bullion coins will bear King Charles III’s portrait for the first time
(Picture: The Royal Mint)The Royal Mint has unveiled the first-ever bullion sporting the portrait of the country’s new monarch, King Charles III.
The design depicts His Majesty’s face from the side. And, the other face of the coin includes Philip Nathan’s design of Britannia, the national personification of Britain as a female warrior.
In her hand, she is carrying her staple trident and a shield with the Union flag etched onto it, her dress flowing into the surrounding waves.
When the viewer changes their perspective, the trident becomes a padlock, representing the coin’s secure nature.
There is a micro-text border in Latin, which says: “Decus et Tutamen”. It translates to: “An ornament and a safeguard”.
Fine details like these are added to make the coin even harder to replicate, thus keeping investors safe.
Britannia has been depicted on our coins during the reign of every monarch since Charles II. Here's the first look of production of the 2023 Britannia coins, the first to feature His Majesty King Charles III's coin portrait.
— The Royal Mint (@RoyalMintUK) January 17, 2023
Discover more! https://t.co/NLRUI7v12X @RoyalFamily pic.twitter.com/jL0qW1yXHQ
The price of the bullion depends on its weight and the price of gold that day.
Today, on Tuesday, January 17, a Britannia 2023 1 oz gold bullion coin with the King’s effigy is being sold from £1,665.02.
Meanwhile, a 1/2 oz coin costs £868.84, a 1/4 oz coin is on sale for £451.76, and the smallest 1/10 oz coin is on the market for £191.36.
The prices are estimates as the final sale value depends on the live metal price.
Like all other Britannia coins, purchasers will be able to get their hands on the King Charles III bullion through the Royal Mint’s website.
Talking about the 2023 coins, director of Precious Metals at the Royal Mint Andrew Dickey said: “The Britannia bullion coin is globally recognised across the world by investors. Its reputation as the world’s most visually secure bullion coin has led to it becoming one of the most popular bullion coins produced by the Royal Mint.
“While the design of the bullion Britannia coin remains consistent, the 2023 dated edition begins a new chapter for Royal Mint bullion coins, as His Majesty The King’s portrait appears for the very first time.”
In 2022, the Royal Mint announced that their sales of gold ounces were 25 per cent higher than in 2021, while silver sales were up by 29 per cent.
They also revealed that bullion sales to Germany and the United States had seen a significant rise, with a 70 per cent and 21 per cent increase, respectively.
