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Royal Mint

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

£1,090 In stock, ready to ship

£1,068 by bank transfer save £22

Save 2%

Paying by bank transfer

This coin by bank transfer £1,068
  1. Add the coin to your basket and check out as normal.
  2. At the payment step, choose Bank transfer.
  3. We'll email you an invoice with your 2% saving already deducted, along with our bank details.
  4. Pay the invoice amount, using your order number as the reference.
  5. Once your payment reaches us, your coin is dispatched free and fully insured by Royal Mail Special Delivery.

Available on orders of £250 or more. Questions? Call or message us on 07340 710102.

Your purchase, guaranteed.

  • Reviewed on Trustpilot
  • Free, discreet insured delivery by Royal Mail Special Delivery
  • Certification verifiable online with NGC or PCGS
  • CGT and VAT exempt for UK residents
  • 14-day return policy

Questions about this coin? Call or message 07340 710102

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

Have a question?

Speak toa specialist.

Ask about grade, population or anything else before you buy. Call or message or send us your question below.

07340 710102

Need help?

Frequently asked questions

Do you offer a discount for paying by bank transfer?

Yes. Pay by bank transfer and you'll save 2% on orders of £250 or more.

  1. Add your coin to the basket and check out as normal.
  2. At the payment step, choose Bank transfer.
  3. We'll email you an invoice with your 2% saving already deducted, along with our bank details.
  4. Pay the invoice amount, using your order number as the reference.
  5. Once your payment reaches us, your coin is dispatched free and fully insured by Royal Mail Special Delivery.

Every coin page shows its bank transfer price just under the main price, so you'll know the exact amount before you order. Questions? Call or message us on 07340 710102.

Delivery & returns

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.

We aim to dispatch all orders within one business day of receiving cleared payment. Once your order has been dispatched, you’ll receive tracking details so you can monitor its progress.

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.
  • Please use a tracked and insured service when sending items back to us, as we cannot accept liability for goods lost or damaged in transit.
  • For full details, please see our Terms & Conditions or contact us directly with any questions.
Payment & verification information

At Sovara Coins, your security is our priority. To protect both our customers and ourselves from fraud, we currently accept debit card and bank transfer payments only.

  • Debit card payments are processed securely through our trusted payment provider, giving you instant confirmation at checkout.
  • Bank transfer payments are also welcome and full instructions will be provided during the checkout process.

Please note that we do not accept credit cards. This policy helps us keep prices competitive and ensures all transactions remain low-risk and fully traceable.

For your protection:

  • Billing and shipping addresses must match.
  • On higher-value orders, we may request ID verification before dispatch. This is a quick process and helps keep your purchase safe.

Every payment method we accept is fully secure, encrypted and protected. Once payment is confirmed, your order will be prepared for dispatch within one business day.

Can I verify the coin's grade?

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.

What is the population or top pop figure?

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.

Do you offer part exchange?


Yes. We accept all proof coins and graded coins in part exchange, including NGC and PCGS certified coins, boxed gold and silver proofs, and proof sets. 

Tell us what you'd like to trade and which coin you have your eye on, and we'll give you a bespoke cost-to-change valuation.

The Seventy Select

Graded 70.Nothing less.

Every coin here is graded PF70 Ultra Cameo or MS70, the highest grade NGC and PCGS award.