2001 Britannia and the Lion Quarter-Ounce Gold Proof Coin NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo
Free discreet RMSD Delivery
Verify online at NGCcoin.uk
CGT & VAT exempt for UK residents
14-day return policy
This 2001 Britannia carries a one-year-only reverse design by veteran Royal Mint sculptor Philip Nathan, deliberately created to echo William Wyon's celebrated 1839 "Una and the Lion" — one of the most admired designs in British numismatic history. Rather than the familiar standing Britannia used in most years, this design shows Britannia wearing a Corinthian helmet and holding her traditional trident and shield, accompanied by a lion, with both figures facing left in a composition Nathan deliberately styled after Wyon's original. The choice of subject was especially fitting for 2001, the centenary year of Queen Victoria's death — the same monarch depicted as Una on the original 1839 coin.
Nathan, the same sculptor behind the classic "standing Britannia" design used across most years of the series, gave this one-off reverse a more modernist, angular typeface and composition, setting it apart from both his own standard design and the elegant original it references. His signature appears beneath the lion's mane.
The obverse carries Ian Rank-Broadley's fourth definitive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, used on UK coinage between 1998 and 2015.
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.
Coin Highlights
- One-year-only "Britannia and the Lion" reverse design by Philip Nathan, deliberately inspired by William Wyon's celebrated 1839 "Una and the Lion"
- Struck in the centenary year of Queen Victoria's death — the monarch depicted on the original Una and the Lion design
- Obverse: Ian Rank-Broadley's fourth 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 | 2001 |
| 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 | Ian Rank-Broadley (fourth portrait) |
| Reverse Designer | Philip Nathan (one-year-only "Britannia and the Lion" design) |
| Grading | NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo |
Why This Coin Stands Out
Britannia's one-off design years are a well-established collecting theme, and this 2001 issue stands out for its deliberate, self-aware homage to one of the most celebrated coin designs in British history. A PF70 Ultra Cameo certification represents the technical ceiling of the issue, making this a strong pick for collectors of both the Britannia range and the broader "Una and the Lion" design lineage, alongside our Great Engravers remastering of the original.
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 one-year-only designs and historic remastered pieces.
Choose options
Have a question before ordering?
Get in Touch
Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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.