2026 Britannia Mint Error | Struck on Cupro-Nickel £5 Planchet Instead of Silver | NGC MS68

This is a genuine, Royal Mint-confirmed minting error: a 2026 1oz Britannia struck using blanks intended for base-metal crown coins, rather than the correct .999 fine silver rounds. The mix-up went undetected during production, and a small number of these off-metal strikes were distributed to a Royal Mint supplier before the error came to light. It is understood that only 209 of these coins exist. Visually, the coin is identical on both sides to a standard 2026 1oz Silver Britannia — the same reverse design and the same uncrowned obverse portrait of King Charles III by Martin Jennings — but struck on a cupro-nickel planchet rather than silver. Cupro-nickel is the copper-and-nickel alloy The Royal Mint typically reserves for its base-metal commemorative crown releases, and the coin carries no silver or precious metal content whatsoever. Its value lies entirely in its rarity and documented origin as a genuine mint error, not in metal content. The cupro-nickel composition on this example has been independently confirmed using in-house XRF (X-ray fluorescence) technology, adding a further layer of verification beyond the coin's NGC certification. Graded NGC MS68 and encapsulated with the "Mint Error" designation on the label. NGC's highest confirmed grade for this error type to date is MS69, making this an exceptional example just one point below the current ceiling for the entire error population. 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 Genuine Royal Mint-confirmed minting error, struck on a base-metal cupro-nickel planchet instead of .999 silver Only 209 examples understood to exist Identical design to the standard 2026 1oz Silver Britannia on both sides Composition independently verified by XRF technology Obverse: uncrowned portrait of King Charles III by Martin Jennings Graded NGC MS68 with the official "Mint Error" label designation NGC's highest recorded grade for this error is MS69 — this example sits just below the current ceiling Encapsulated in a tamper-evident NGC holder for authenticity and protection Specifications Year 2026 Mint The Royal Mint, Llantrisant Composition Cupro-nickel (error — should be .999 fine silver) Diameter 38.61 mm Obverse Designer Martin Jennings (King Charles III, uncrowned portrait) Reverse Standard 2026 Britannia design Known Population of This Error Approximately 209 Grading NGC MS68, Mint Error designation Highest Known Grade for This Error MS69 Why This Coin Stands Out Genuine, verified mint errors from The Royal Mint are rare events — this is a documented case with corroboration across multiple sources, an official Mint acknowledgement, and independent XRF metal verification, which is considerably more assurance than most error coins ever receive. With only 209 known examples and a grading ceiling of MS69, this NGC MS68 example represents a near-top-tier grade within an already tiny population. A genuinely unusual and highly collectable piece for anyone interested in modern British minting errors. As UK legal tender, this coin is exempt from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents regardless of its composition. Browse our full range of graded gold Sovereigns to explore more rare and unusual certified coins. 2026 G.Britain Britannia On £5 Cu-Ni Planchet S2PND