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Gold has been a trusted store of wealth for thousands of years, valued not only for its beauty but also for its rarity, durability, and universal acceptance. Today, gold bullion remains one of the most popular and accessible ways to preserve and grow wealth, with coins and bars offering investors flexibility in format, size, and price point.
Why Invest in Gold?
- VAT-Free in the UK for investment-grade bullion
- Globally Recognised and easy to trade
- Wealth Preservation during periods of inflation or economic uncertainty
- Portfolio Diversification to balance other investments
- Durability - gold does not tarnish or corrode over time
Gold's intrinsic value and historical stability make it a core component of many investment strategies, whether for long-term holding or as a hedge against market volatility.
Our Gold Bullion Range
Gold Traders offers a comprehensive selection of bullion coins and bars, from fractional sizes suitable for gradual accumulation to substantial weights designed for larger portfolio positions. We stock brand new and carefully authenticated pre-owned gold, giving customers greater choice and often improved value.
All our gold bullion is sourced through trusted supply chains, ensuring every piece meets strict standards for purity and presentation.
A 1/2 ounce coin contains half a troy ounce of precious metal. That's about 15.55g of fine gold, in a coin a little smaller than a £2 piece.
Half-ounce coins sit between the full ounce and the smaller fractional sizes. They give you a good amount of gold in one coin, without the larger outlay of a 1oz coin.
Half-ounce Gold Britannias
The Royal Mint has made a half-ounce Gold Britannia since the series began in 1987. Today's coins are struck in 999.9 fine gold (24 carat) and measure 27.00mm across.
- Face value: £50, so the coin is UK legal tender
- Gold content: half a troy ounce of fine gold
- Design: Philip Nathan's Britannia, with King Charles III on newer coins
Older half ounces made between 1987 and 2012 are 22 carat. They hold the same amount of pure gold but weigh a little more. For 2027, the coin carries a '40' privy mark celebrating 40 years of the Gold Britannia.
Why choose a 1/2oz coin?
A half ounce is a practical middle ground. It costs less than a full ounce, but the premium over the gold price is usually lower than on quarter-ounce and tenth-ounce coins.
It's also flexible. If you hold several half ounces, you can sell part of your gold without parting with a whole ounce at once.
Tax on half-ounce coins
Gold coins that qualify as investment gold, such as Gold Britannias, are free from VAT in the UK.
Because Britannias are UK legal tender, any gain when you sell them is also free from Capital Gains Tax for UK residents. Half-ounce coins from other countries don't share this exemption.
Selling 1/2oz coins
We buy half-ounce coins in person at our Royal Wootton Bassett and Bodmin branches, and by post. See what we pay for a 1/2oz Gold Britannia, or browse our full Britannia range.
Your questions answered
We've compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions. If there's something we haven't covered, please call us & we'll be happy to help. Read all FAQs.
We have a simple gold hallmark wizard that will help you identify the marks on your gold to determine its carat and age.
Top tip: Unless your eyesight is super sharp, you'll need a magnification tool to view the marks on your gold. Modern smartphone cameras can often assist with this.
Yes. We buy half-ounce coins in person at our Royal Wootton Bassett and Bodmin branches, and by post. That includes older 22 carat Britannias.
It has a face value of £50. The gold in the coin is worth far more than its face value.
Yes, for UK residents. Britannias are UK legal tender, and gains on UK legal tender coins are exempt from Capital Gains Tax. Half-ounce coins from other countries aren't exempt.
Yes. Gold Britannias qualify as investment gold, so there's no VAT to pay on them in the UK.
Usually, yes. The premium over the gold price tends to be lower on bigger coins, because making costs are spread over more metal. So a single half ounce normally costs less than two quarter ounces.
A 1/2oz coin contains half a troy ounce, which is about 15.55g of fine gold. The coin itself weighs a little more. For example, the 2027 1/2oz Gold Britannia weighs 15.60g.