Short answer
GoldPaid buys gold Britannia coins by post UK-wide: one-ounce, half, quarter and tenth-ounce issues from 1987 onwards. Pre-2013 Britannias were 22ct (916); 2013-onwards Britannias are 24ct (999.9). All are UK legal tender and exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents. Free prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label, written XRF-confirmed offer, bank payment on acceptance.
Two different Britannia specifications
The gold Britannia coin has been issued by the Royal Mint since 1987 and underwent a specification change in 2013 that any seller should know about. Pre-2013 one-ounce Britannias contain one troy ounce of fine gold alloyed to 22ct (916 fineness) with silver and copper, giving a gross weight of 34.04 grams. Post-2013 one-ounce Britannias contain one troy ounce of fine gold at 24ct (999.9 fineness) with no alloying, giving a gross weight of exactly 31.10 grams.
The fine-gold content is identical: one troy ounce of pure gold per coin. The XRF reading on arrival confirms which version a coin is by reading the surface purity directly. The market values both at bullion (one troy ounce of fine gold) regardless of which alloy specification the coin was struck to.
The CGT exemption Britannia coins carry
Gold Britannia coins are UK legal tender (£100 face value on the one-ounce coin, despite the bullion being worth roughly 20 times that). UK legal tender coins are exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK individual residents on any gain made between purchase and sale. That exemption applies to Britannias, Sovereigns, Lunar series and other UK-minted legal tender; it does not apply to Krugerrands, Maple Leafs or any other foreign legal tender coin.
For high-value sales, the CGT exemption can be material. We do not provide tax advice on individual circumstances, but the simple rule is: gold Britannia capital gains for UK individual residents do not generate a CGT liability. The HMRC guidance is on the gov.uk website if you want to read the underlying position.
Fractional Britannias and the modern series
The Royal Mint introduced fractional Britannias from 1991: half-ounce, quarter-ounce, tenth-ounce and (from 2013) twentieth and fortieth-ounce coins. All carry proportional fine-gold content and all share the UK legal tender / CGT-exempt status of the one-ounce coin.
Britannia proof issues, struck in limited mintages each year, carry modest numismatic premiums above bullion when sold complete with original Royal Mint presentation case and certificate of authenticity. Send the complete set together; the case and certificate are part of the value on proof issues.
Posting Britannias and parcel cover
One-ounce Britannias at recent rates are worth roughly £1,800-£2,000 per coin in bullion. A parcel of one or two coins fits well within the standard Royal Mail Special Delivery £2,500 cover. Parcels of three or more should be flagged on WhatsApp before posting so we can arrange higher cover.
Wrap each coin individually in tissue or in its own coin tube. Britannias struck in 24ct gold are softer than 22ct coins and mark slightly more easily, though no surface mark affects the bullion value. Coin-to-coin contact in transit should be avoided where possible.
Four moving parts, all visible
- You ask, we steer. WhatsApp us photos of your britannia coins; you get an honest indicative figure and no pressure to go further.
- We send the label. A free Royal Mail Special Delivery label arrives, tracked and signed for, with a QR-code option if you cannot print.
- You post when ready. No countdown. Use whatever padded packaging you already have.
- We test, you decide. Items are weighed and XRF-assayed, the written offer is sent, and you either accept for a Faster Payments transfer or decline for a free insured return.
Cover in transit
Royal Mail Special Delivery cover may be available up to £2,500 depending on the postal method and cover level used. The prepaid label is Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed: full tracking, a signature on delivery, arranged with that cover per parcel. Higher-value items are no problem, but please message us first so the cover and the packing approach match the value. Postage and insurance explains it fully.
Declining, made simple
A quick message is all it takes to decline, and you do not need to give a reason. Your items are then returned free of charge on a tracked, insured service, with no fee and no pressure to reconsider. What happens if I decline the offer covers it fully.
Payment, once you accept
When you say yes to the written offer, GoldPaid pays by Faster Payments bank transfer to your nominated account. You give those details only at the point you accept, never as a condition of getting an offer.
Why this is a calmer way to sell
Three things make GoldPaid a steadier route than a counter sale. You see a measured valuation in writing, not a verbal estimate. You decide at home, with nobody waiting. And if you decline, the return is free, tracked and insured, so obtaining the valuation costs you nothing.
Common questions
Are pre-2013 22ct Britannias worth less than 24ct ones?
No. Both contain exactly one troy ounce of fine gold and trade at bullion value. The alloy difference (22ct vs 24ct) affects durability slightly but not metal content.
Do you buy proof Britannias?
Yes. Proof coins sold complete with their original Royal Mint case and certificate of authenticity carry small numismatic premiums above bullion. Send the case and certificate with the coin.
What is a 2013-onwards Britannia made of exactly?
999.9 fine gold, pure gold to four nines. The 2013 specification removed the 22ct alloy and matched the industry standard for modern bullion coins.
Can I sell Britannias I bought from the Royal Mint directly?
Yes. The purchase route makes no difference to the resale value; the coin contains the same fine gold whether bought from the Royal Mint, a dealer or an auction.
What if my Britannia is in a damaged case or missing the certificate?
Bullion-strike coins still sell at full bullion value regardless of case condition. Proof coins lose their small numismatic premium without the case and certificate; the bullion value remains.