Gold Ounce 2021 Gold Standard, Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

Like many other mints, the Royal Mint issues bullion coins in precious metals, having much higher intrinsic value than their face value. The one ounce (1 oz) gold coins are denominated as One Hundred Pounds (£100).

The coins are legal tender but are not intended for circulation. They are targeted at bullion investors or collectors who appreciate the special editions as pieces of art. The coins are typically "one-year" types usually issued in parallel with smaller denominations with the same reverse designs.

Designed in 2016 to mark 200 years since the de facto introduction of the gold standard - tying the value of the British pound to that of gold - the Gold Standard 2021 bullion coin is an annual offering from The Royal Mint. Featuring the work of Royal Mint graphic designer Dominique Evans on its reverse, and Jody Clark's official portrait of Her Majesty The Queen on the obverse. The Gold Standard range now includes both a one ounce and quarter-ounce bullion coin struck in 999.9 fine gold.

The journey to Britain’s adoption of a gold standard can be traced through The Royal Mint’s long history, including back to 1717 when Sir Isaac Newton (who was Master of the Mint) issued a report that led to the gold guinea being assigned a fixed value. The Coinage Act of 1816 changed the financial system in Britain dramatically, and introduced a circulating gold coin; the iconic Sovereign. A new gold standard tying the value of The Sovereign to a precise measurement of gold was adopted to help stabilise the country’s war-torn economy, and by 1821, a gold standard was fully operational in Britain.

This is the first one ounce bullion coin in the "Gold Standard" range.