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