The Royal Mint Collections
With over 765 years’ experience crafting exquisite gold coins for kings and queens, we have produced some of the finest gold-coin collections in the world. These longstanding series offer collectors a fascinating array of coinage to seek out. The fabulous collections bring together historic coins and modern pieces that highlight the advances made in coin production.
The Sovereign
When discussing the gold coins of The Royal Mint, there is only one place to start. The Sovereign is our flagship coin, and we are proud of its 533-year history. It was first struck under Henry VII in 1489 when the king ordered a ‘new money of gold’. Since then, the famous coin has become an icon of British numismatics and continues to set the standard for gold coinage.
As you’d expect from a coin with such a history, there is a vast selection of significant years that mark momentous events in Britain’s history. Occasional design changes bring more significance to a select few Sovereigns that make them even more sought after. The traditional design was created by Benedetto Pistrucci when The Sovereign was reintroduced to Britain in 1817 after being out of production for over 200 years. Since then, the famous St George and the dragon design has been synonymous with The Sovereign.
Britannia
Britannia has been the modern face of British bullion since it was added to our collection in 1987. This bullion is recognised around the world and trusted to deliver reliable gold for investors. Each year sees beautiful new designs and advanced security features that continue to strengthen this impeccable offering.
Introduced to Britain by the Roman emperor Hadrian, Britannia has become the female representation of our nation’s unbreakable spirit. She first appeared on British coins in 1672 during the reign of Charles II and has been present in some form under every monarch since.
Today, Britannia bullion coins offer investors superior choice and reliability, making it the most sought-after gold bullion in the United Kingdom.
Original Works Large Coins
Our most exclusive and luxurious coins are reserved for collectors searching for a true one-of-akind coin. Large coins represent the pinnacle in numismatic art and the magnificent designs are enhanced on the larger surface area. Every intricate detail is recreated using the latest technology to honour the original designs in the best possible way.
This spectacular and extremely limited collection of Original Works coins revives some of the most beloved designs ever struck at The Royal Mint. They include The Queen’s Beasts and William Wyon’s crowning glory, the Gothic Crown. The stunning designs are reproduced with exceptional accuracy for the most discerning collectors to enjoy.
We also offer the opportunity to take advantage of our unmatched craftsmanship to create a large coin that is unique to you. With special touches added to existing themes, you can create a personal coin for a once-in-a-lifetime piece of art.
Commemorative Coins
For many people, commemorative coins are a welcome introduction to the varied world of coin collecting. These spectacular coins are created to celebrate momentous events and acclaimed figures. The Royal Mint have struck beautiful commemorative coins to honour everything from royal achievements to advancements in science. With the vast selection of themes, there are plenty of coins to build an impressive collection.
The Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen 2022 2oz Gold Proof Coin
In 2022, Britain celebrated the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty to honour an incredible 70 years on the throne. No monarch in British history has reigned for so long and we at The Royal Mint wanted to mark this unmatched achievement in royal history. Our skilled designers and craftspeople produced a stunning Platinum Jubilee commemorative gold coin for collectors and royal enthusiasts to enjoy.
The obverse features a sublime portrait of The Queen on horseback while the reverse displays an ornate royal mantle inspired by the coinage of William IV. The 2oz gold Proof version is an exquisite piece of numismatic art that commemorates an achievement unlikely to be repeated for centuries.
The 40th Birthday of HRH The Duke of Cambridge 2022 £5 Gold Proof Coin
The Royal Mint doesn’t strike beautiful coins only for reigning monarchs. We also produce special editions that honour significant moments in the lives of key members of the Royal Family. Coins have been struck to memorialise births, weddings and deaths, and we like to celebrate big royal birthdays with special coins too.
In 2022, His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge celebrated his 40th birthday. To mark the occasion, we produced a sublime series of coins bearing the popular prince’s image. The highlight of this stellar collection is the £5 gold Proof coin. Struck in 22 carat gold, it is the first UK coin design wholly dedicated to His Royal Highness and is fit for a future king. Only 310 of these magnificent coins were struck, making it a fine addition to any royal-coin collection.
Lunar Year of the Tiger 2022 UK One-Ounce Gold Proof Coin
In 2021, we introduced a sensational new coin series that celebrates the lunar new year with an annual release. As part of the series, we produced a special one-ounce gold Proof coin, the only one in the UK, that celebrates the Year of the Tiger in 2022. It features a breathtaking fusion of British and Chinese culture in one beautiful design.
The reverse displays a lifelike depiction of a tiger in astounding detail, complete with vivid markings and ferocious paws. This is accompanied by the Chinese symbol for ‘tiger’, denoting the special year the coin was struck. Only 888 of the one-ounce edition were produced, making this work of numismatic art supremely collectable. As it is produced from 999.9 fine gold, it makes a lavish addition to a gold coin collection.
Old Gold Coins
Many collectors enjoy hunting for historic coins that carry stories of the past in each inscription. There is a special thrill that comes with holding these old, rare coins; you feel the weight of history in your palm. During our unrivalled past, The Royal Mint has produced some of the most important coins in British numismatic history, and gold has played a key role in many of our most celebrated creations.
George II Five Guinea EIC
The guinea is one of the most famous British coins and it was the first coin to be machine struck, signalling an end for hammered coins. Guineas were first struck in 1633 and produced for 150 years. During this time, they were established as the most important British gold coin and the foundation of the East India Company’s trading power.
This historic five-guinea coin is a fine example of the denomination, and it demonstrates the significant link between English coinage and the East India Company. The coin bears the mark EIC underneath the bare head of George II to denote that it was produced using gold supplied by the East India Company. This was at a time when there was a ban on exporting British coins to the colonies as it was believed the colonies ought to supply the British Empire with valuable resources, not extract them.
1643 Charles I Gold Half-Unite – Oxford Mint
The unite is an interesting example of how historic coins were used to strengthen the agenda of the reigning monarch. It was named to represent James I’d desire to unite the kingdoms of England and Scotland under one realm.
The 1643 half-unite was struck during the English Civil War when the Oxford Mint was established in Charles I’d stronghold. The Oxford Mint produced enough coins to fund Charles’ expensive war effort and keep his army paid until 1646, when Oxford was besieged for a second time and the city was taken for Parliament. The mint was closed, and during the stringent Commonwealth period that followed, many Charles I and royal artefacts were destroyed.
Most coins produced at the Oxford Mint were silver, but a small number of gold coins were also struck. This, coupled with the desecration of Charles I coinage, makes the Oxford Mint half-unite exceedingly rare, more so than the full unite.
1863 Victoria Sovereign – Die Number 827
The 1863 Victoria Sovereign was struck at a time when The Sovereign was used as a circulating coin and held a nominal value of one pound. This coin features Queen Victoria’s favourite portrait, the ‘Young Head’ designed by William Wyon that featured on her coinage for 47 years.
The die that was used on the obverse makes this beautiful coin significant. It is known as die number 827 and coins struck with it are extremely rare. Its first known use was in 1954, but it took until 1977 before an explanation was offered from The Royal Mint Curator, Graham Dyer. The die is thought to have been created from remelted scissel and scrap gold from NM Rothchild brittle gold ingots. The die number is subtly imprinted underneath the bust to denote the coin’s rarity.
Ancient Coins
The coins of the ancient world have always been a fascination for many collectors. They offer a tangible link to the distant past and a time of vast empires and extraordinary emperors. Various metals were used to produce ancient coins including silver and copper, but gold continues to be the most alluring.
Domitian Gold Aureus AD 77–78
Domitian was the last of the Twelve Caesars – the first emperors of the Roman Empire – and ruled from AD 81 to 69. He was also the last ruler from the Flavian dynasty that produced only three emperors over 27 years.
Over his fifteen-year reign, Domitian produced many coins made from a variety of precious metals, but his gold aureus is the stand-out coin. The aureus was the predominant gold coin of the Roman Empire and was primarily used to pay the emperor’s vast legions.
The coins of the Twelve Caesars continue to attract ancient-coin collectors as they represent a significant moment in history, the establishment of one of the world’s most successful empires. The coins of Domitian are an excellent place to start such a collection because their production was so prolific. His coins, even the prized gold aureus, are relatively common by ancient-coin standards.
Justinian I Gold Solidus
This original gold coin dates back more than 1,400 years to the Byzantine empire. Justinian I ruled from AD 527 to 565 and is known for his aggressive military expansion, dedication to public works and his keen promotion of Christianity. The gold solidus itself was introduced to broadcast Constantine the Great’s conversion to the religion.
The Justinian I solidus continues this tradition with an obverse featuring the emperor holding an orb surmounted with a cross – the Christian symbol of authority – and an angel on its reverse. Its deep links to Christianity make this one of the most important coins in world history, and as such, it is immensely popular with coin collectors.
Your Gold Coin Collection
As the home of UK gold, The Royal Mint can offer an exciting array of gold coins to fit any collection. Whether you’re searching for trusted gold bullion coins, graded historic pieces or a stunning commemorative coin to add to your collection, you’ve come to the right place.