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Britannia vs Krugerrand coins. They are some of the most sought after, precious gold and silver pieces in the world. Well-known for their intriguing histories and signature mints, they’re both uniquely valuable in their own special way.

We take a look at the Britannia and the Krugerrand and discuss both of these collectible coins.

 

The Brilliant Britannia

 

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What’s its history?

The story of Britannia coins begins way back in the 2nd Century when Britain was seized by the Roman Empire and a strong female figure appeared on their currency coins under the name of Britannia – brandishing a spear in one hand and a shield in the other. But when the Romans left the country, Britannia disappeared, too.

It wasn’t until the 17th century, when the British maritime empire began to grow, that Britannia – bravely looking out onto crashing waves – bedecked the new British farthing. The figure, with her gaze set on the future and her shield symbolic of protection, represented strength. She was controversially modelled by the wife of King Charles 11’s lady in waiting (who Charles was infatuated by).

Strongly embedded in British heritage, the Britannia doesn’t appear on currency anymore, but has a coin of its own – issued by the Royal Mint in gold since 1987, in silver since 1997, and then in platinum since 2018.

The personification of Britain as a woman is reimagined by artists every year when the Royal Mint releases a new Britannia coin, with a nod to national trials and triumphs of the time.

 

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Buy Britannias Today

Struck by The Royal Mint, the Gold Britannia coins carry a finesse of 99.9% pure gold – the maximum amount found in coinage. Both gold and silver coins are instantly recognizable and popular worldwide, enhancing the demand for these coins by investors keen to hold investments that can be easily converted into cash when needed.

Most editions of Britannia coins are readily and easily available. The current year of issue is usually the cheapest. Buying a Britannia from a specific year may well command a premium due to their scarcity, so purchasing a current edition and watching your coin grow in value is a great idea.

People opt to invest in Britannia for their beauty and their transcendental sense of national pride. Buying a Britannia means you’re supporting your own country’s economy and it’s also a legal tender in the UK, so you don’t have to pay Capital Gains Tax.

This is one of the biggest advantages to owning Britannia coins in the UK.

 

 

Britannia vs Krugerrand – The Lucrative Krugerrand

 

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What’s its history?

The Krugerrand is a precious South African coin, first minted on 3rd July 1967 to market South African gold across the world. It’s produced by the prestigious Rand Refinery and bears the compound name of Paul Kruger, the former South African president, and rand, the unit of currency. The coin bears the elegant figure of a springbok – the country’s nationally treasured animal.

The Krugerrand made history because it was the first coin to be set at the monetary value of gold. This is unusual because it means the coin’s price was always based on its precious metal content, rather than its value. It’s considered a legal currency in South Africa, although it’s rarely used as this.

The Krugerrand proved very popular, by 1980 it accounted for more than 90% of the global coin market and became the number one choice for investors buying gold. Its huge success was the catalyst to encourage other countries to make gold bullion coins of their own – like the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf (1979) and the Australian Nugget (1987).

But when the South African apartheid set in, these little gold coins fell out of favour with many Western countries who wanted no association with the country’s actions and government. When the apartheid sanction ended in 1994, it took some time for the Krugerrand to recover its reputation.

 

Buy Krugerrands today

Krugerrands are special – the South African reserve bank restricts their exportation to a maximum of 30,000 rand and visitors are only allowed 15 coins to take back.

The Krugerrand is minted in a copper-gold alloy, with a 22 karat composition (slightly less than other gold coins), which means it resists surface damage and is a lot more durable than other coins. It’s known as the medal coin and is a favourite for collectors all over the world. Since the production of gold becomes more and more expensive every year as supply dwindles, investors know the price of gold will surely stay high, providing excellent protection from the decreasing potential of national currencies.

On the other hand, UK investors do have to pay Capital Gains Tax on Krugs – but only if your profit exceeds the CGT threshold for the tax year you sell them. Don’t let this put you off though, because you’re unlikely to exceed this and the low premiums on these precious gold coins make them an attractive investment.

 

 

Bullion at Bleyer

Our friendly Bleyer team is always on hand to advise you. Browse our coin collection here. Or if you’d like to talk to a specialist on the phone, call the office on 01769 618618.