Gold Ounce 2023 Britannia, Bullion (Queen Elizabeth II), Coin from United Kingdom - detailed information

The obverse of the coin depicts the crowned old head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Royal Diamond Diadem crown worn for her Coronation (her effigy known as the "Fifth Portrait").

In small letters below the head, the artist's initials J.C (for Jody Clark).

Running continuously around the effigy is the monarch's legend: ELIZABETH II · D · G · REG · F · D · 100 POUNDS ·. Translated from Latin: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith, followed by the value and denomination in English.

The obverse has a textured background ("guilloche" geometric pattern) and a crenellated (toothed) border.

At centre, the standing figure of Britannia - the female personification of Great Britain, facing left, with flowing robes, wearing a crested Corinthian helmet pushed back to reveal her face. She is holding a trident in her right hand; her left hand rests on a shield decorated with the cross of the Union Jack, and holds an olive branch. She is standing on a rock, with sea waves in the background.

Around, interrupted by the trident, the inscription ' BRITANNIA ' 2023 ' 1 oz ' 999.9 ' FINE ' GOLD '.

The artist's surname NATHAN (Philip Nathan) is in relief in small letters on the rock under Britannia's feet.

There are four advanced security features built into the design:
- in the lower left, a latent image changes from a padlock to Britannia’s famous trident when viewed from a different angle
- "surface animation" brings the background of sparkling waves to life as the coin is moved
- micro text gives both decoration and protection - the words DECUS ET TUTAMEN (from Latin: "an ornament and a safeguard") are repeated multiple times in the inner rim between the central circle with the design and the outer rim with the inscriptions
- Britannia’s shield bears the Union Flag accented with tincture lines - thin lines (also known as "heraldic colours") representing the colours of the flag.

Gold content (troy oz): 1.000
Finish: bullion (Brilliant Uncirculated).
Packaging: individual coin in capsule, or 10 coins in mint tube, or 100 (ten tubes) in mint box.
Royal Mint Product Code: UKBGB231C.
Issue date: 6 October 2022. On sale from the Royal Mint until 26 March 2023.

This is the last Britannia issue featuring the fifth and final effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Owing to the unfortunate tendency of some mints - the Royal Mint included - to issue future-dated coins, this coin is not exactly an error coin (considering that it was released like this intentionally) but is not right either. It is dated 2023, but features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II who died in September 2022; the coin should have carried the portrait of King Charles III instead.