1987 Quarter-Ounce Gold Proof Britannia | First Year of Issue | NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo

1987 Quarter-Ounce Gold Proof Britannia – First Year of Issue – NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo This coin comes from the very first year of The Royal Mint's Britannia series, introduced in July 1987 to give British investors a bullion coin to rival the South African Krugerrand and Canadian Maple Leaf. It was only the second time in history that Britannia had appeared as a standing figure on British coinage, following George William De Saulles' celebrated design used on the florin between 1902 and 1910. Philip Nathan's original "standing Britannia" design — since regarded as one of the most celebrated modern British coin designs — shows Britannia poised confidently on a clifftop, trident in one hand, a shield bearing the Union Flag in the other, an olive branch symbolising peace, her robes and hair caught in the wind. This design would go on to define the series for the best part of a decade before Nathan and later artists began introducing occasional variations. The obverse carries Raphael Maklouf's third definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, used on UK coinage between 1985 and 1997. Graded NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo — the maximum attainable grade, reflecting a flawless strike with no imperfections under magnification and strong cameo contrast between the frosted devices and mirrored fields, a genuinely notable achievement for a coin now approaching four decades old. Your Purchase, Guaranteed ✓ Only 1 currently in stock — each graded coin we list is a specific example, individually photographed and certified. ✓ Free, fully insured UK delivery — tracked door to door, at no extra cost. ✓ The exact coin you see — every photo on this page is the real coin, never stock imagery. ✓ 14-day returns if the coin isn't exactly as described. ✓ Independently verified — check this coin's own certification on NGC's public register (link below). ✓ Talk to a specialist directly — email richard@sovaracoins.com for a straight answer before you buy. Coin Highlights From 1987 — the first year of The Royal Mint's Britannia series Philip Nathan's original "standing Britannia" design, only the second standing Britannia in British coinage history Obverse: Raphael Maklouf's third definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II Struck in 22 carat gold to proof finish by The Royal Mint Certified NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo — the highest possible grade Encapsulated in a tamper-evident NGC holder for authenticity and protection Specifications Year 1987 Mint The Royal Mint, Llantrisant Composition 22 carat gold (91.67% fine) Weight 8.48 grams Fine Gold Content 0.25 troy oz (7.78 grams) Diameter 22.00 mm Edge Milled Finish Proof Obverse Designer Raphael Maklouf (third portrait) Reverse Designer Philip Nathan (original "standing Britannia" design) Grading NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo Why This Coin Stands Out As a first-year-of-issue piece, this coin carries genuine historical weight beyond its gold content — it's the design that launched an entire series still running nearly forty years later. A PF70 Ultra Cameo certification on a coin of this age represents both the technical ceiling of the issue and a real rarity in its own right, since proof coins from the late 1980s rarely survive in perfect condition. At a more accessible weight than the half-ounce, it's a strong entry point into first-year Britannia collecting. As UK legal tender gold, this coin is exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents and free from VAT under current investment gold rules. Browse our full range of graded gold Sovereigns to explore more historic first-year and one-off Britannia designs. 1987 G.BRITAIN BRITANNIA G25PND