Five Best Gold Bullion Coins for UK Investors

1. UK Gold Sovereign Coin

The gold sovereign is one of Britain's most famous coins, and the first of which was minted in 1489 at the behest of King Henry VII. The modern Sovereign featuring Benedetto Pistrucci's 'St George & the Dragon' reverse design was first struck in 1817. Due to its long history, the UK Sovereign coin is the flagship coin of The Royal Mint. 

Since it was first introduced in 1817, The Royal Mint’s gold sovereign coin has remained one of the most popular and recognisable coins in the world. One of our best-selling products, sovereigns are popular with investors due to their convenient small size, and due to them being legal tender in the UK, they are exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT).

• Manufacturer: The Royal Mint
• Weight: 7.98 grams
• Fineness: 22ct gold (contains 7.32g of pure 24ct gold)
• Tax status: VAT free and CGT exempt

2. UK Britannia 1oz Gold Coin

The 1oz Britannia coin has remained one of the world’s most highly traded gold coins since its inception in 1987. Like the sovereign, the Britannia is also exempt from both VAT and Capital Gains Tax, allowing UK investors the freedom to invest & sell as many or as few of these coins as they require, as and when they need, without paying tax on any profit they make. As from 2021, the coin also features ground-breaking security features, making the gold Britannia harder to duplicate and ensuring its popularity with investors.

• Manufacturer: The Royal Mint
• Weight: 1 Troy Ounce (31.10 grams) – fractional sizes are also available
• Fineness: 24ct gold (pre-2013 coins were produced in 22ct gold)
• Tax status: VAT free and CGT exempt
• Dimensions - Diameter: 32.69mm. Thickness: 2.30mm.
• Coin edge is reeded and the alignment is horizontal.

3. Krugerrand 1oz Gold Coin

First minted in 1967 by the South African Mint, the name 'Krugerrand' comes from the name of the president at the time; Paul 'Kruger', and the unit of currency of South Africa the 'Rand'. 

Now one of the world’s most beloved and recognisable coins, the Krugerrand was seen as the world’s first ‘bullion’ coin, as it was the very first coin not to feature a currency denomination and was designed for the hard-working population who wanted to preserve their savings.

After its conception at the end of the '60s, the Krugerrand was being minted at a rate of approximately 40,000 units per year, this continued to grow until 1978 when a record-breaking 6 million coins were produced.

• Manufacturer: South African Mint
• Weight: 33.9 grams
• Fineness: 22ct gold (contains 1 Troy Ounce of pure 24ct gold)
• Tax status: VAT free

4. American Eagle 1oz Gold Coin

First released by the United States Mint in 1986, the American Gold Eagle coin is America’s most popular bullion coin and remains one of our best-sellers each year. These coins are guaranteed by the U.S. government to contain the stated amount of fine gold, and by law the gold must come from the USA.

The 2023 USA Eagle 1oz Gold Coin features a rendition of Gaudens' full length figure of Lady Liberty walking gracefully as the sun rises over a ridge, with a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left, and added details from the original bronze cast. 

• Manufacturer: United States Mint
• Weight: 33.9 grams – fractional sizes are also available
• Dimensions: Diameter: 32.70mm Thickness: 2.87mm.
• Fineness: 22ct gold (contains 1 Troy Ounce of pure 24ct gold)
• Tax status: VAT free

5. Canadian Maple Leaf 1oz Gold Coin

First struck in 1979, the gold Canadian Maple bullion coin remains an extremely popular coin and is one of our biggest sellers every year. Featuring the iconic national emblem of Canada, the maple leaf, the coin is the official gold coin of Canada and is produced from gold which has been extracted from Canadian mines. 

The 2023 Canadian Maple 1oz Gold Coin features a unique light diffracting pattern of radial lines. Precisely machined by the Royal Canadian Mint onto their master die, it creates a unique light diffracting pattern that has not been seen on other bullion coins. This makes the coins harder to duplicate and provides another level of security, ensuring their popularity with investors.

• Manufacturer: Royal Canadian Mint
• 1 Troy Ounce (31.10 grams) – fractional sizes are also available
• Dimensions: Diameter: 30.00mm Thickness: 2.80mm.
• The coin edge is milled.
• Fineness: 24ct gold
• Tax status: VAT free