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

1987 Tenth-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. A small detail unique to this earliest run: the 1987 Britannia range was alloyed with copper rather than the silver used from 1990 onward, giving coins from this specific year a subtly different tone still prized by specialist collectors. 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. 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 Alloyed with copper, unique to the 1987–1989 issues before the switch to silver alloy from 1990 Obverse: Raphael Maklouf's third definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II Individual proof mintage of just 3,500 coins 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, copper alloy (91.67% fine) Weight 3.40 grams Fine Gold Content 0.1 troy oz (3.11 grams) Diameter 16.50 mm Edge Milled Finish Proof Obverse Designer Raphael Maklouf (third portrait) Reverse Designer Philip Nathan (original "standing Britannia" design) Individual Proof Mintage 3,500 Grading NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo Why This Coin Stands Out As a first-year-of-issue piece with an individual mintage of just 3,500, this is the scarcest of the three 1987 denominations we carry. 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 the most accessible weight and price point of the range, it's an excellent way to start a first-year Britannia collection. 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 G10PND