The Gold Britannia Coin is the standard form of British bullion. It weighs in at 1 ounce, and it is made of pure gold. Since it is bullion and not normal legal tender, the coin is available at premium rates.
The Gold Britannia Coin, first introduced in 1987, are now known worldwide. They are beautiful coins, and also quite useful for investors. The standard form of this coin is 1 oz, but there have been many sizes produced, ranging from 1/10th of an ounce to a full ounce. Since 1987, these coins have been released every year without fail, mainly in a proof version. The proof version is usually only available in a box set, but sometimes it can be found in other packages.
The Britannia, who appears on most British coins, is a pike and shield wielding woman. On the Gold Britannia Coins, she appears on the back side of the coin. The image of Britannia is ancient, even dating back to Roman times. The Romans supposedly used the symbol on their currency more than 2,000 years ago. Later on in 1672, Charles II took up the design as well. He, with the help of sculptor Philip Nathan, produced a new design, where Britannia was standing. This design was unique as most of the coins featured Britannia seated.
As mentioned, the Gold Britannia Coin is bullion. Bullion coins have great potential for investment, as precious metals have always been more stable than normal currency. The Gold Britannia is a popular coin among investors because they are fairly cheap, but are a great investment. The coins are typically sold at 3-4% above commodity, and never above 10%, so the coin is a solid investment. You can buy Gold Britannia Coins for cheap, keep them for a few years, and re-sell for a profit. Gold has always risen steadily, and will continue to in the future.
The premium on the coins is very reasonable for the initial purchase, but obviously it must rise when there are lower gold rates. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you invest in only the larger Gold Britannia Coins, and steer clear of the lower valued ones. Also, if you live in Britain, these coins are tax-free because they are investments. Most other countries still tax coin investments, but be sure to check it out before you make a decision, as several other countries do offer tax breaks on valid investments.