1987 Quarter-Ounce Gold Proof Britannia | First Year of Issue | NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo
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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.
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.
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Delivery Information
We offer free insured delivery across the UK on all orders. Every coin is carefully inspected, securely packaged, and sent using Royal Mail Special Delivery - a fully tracked, next-day service that requires a signature on receipt.
All parcels are shipped discreetly and fully insured for peace of mind.
We currently do not ship internationally. Orders can only be delivered to the UK address provided at checkout, and we’re unable to send to PO Box addresses.
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Returns Policy
For non-bullion items (such as proof coins, graded coins or accessories), we’re happy to accept returns within 14 days of receipt if you feel your coin is not as described and provided the item is returned in its original condition, please contact us and we’ll be glad to help.
If an item is returned for reasons other than being not as described, return postage will be the responsibility of the buyer.
Important Notes
- All returns must be pre-authorised by our customer service team.
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Yes. Every NGC-certified coin has a unique certification number visible on the slab label. You can verify the grade, coin details and population data at NGCcoin.uk using the cert number shown.
The NGC census records how many examples of each coin have been graded at each level. A Top Pop coin means no other example has achieved a higher grade — making it the finest certified specimen in existence for that issue.
Yes. If you have existing graded sovereigns you'd like to trade towards a purchase, contact us for a bespoke cost-to-change valuation.