1 oz The Lion and The Eagle Gold Coin

An Anglo-American Bullion Coin from The Royal Mint

The 1 oz Lion and The Eagle gold coin is a collaborative bullion programme from The Royal Mint, debuting in 2024. It unites two national heraldic symbols, the British lion and the American bald eagle, on a single coin, a concept without precedent in sovereign bullion. The inaugural reverse was designed by John M. Mercanti, former 12th Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, best known for creating the reverse of the American Silver Eagle. That makes Mercanti the only person to have designed official bullion coins for both the US Mint and the Royal Mint.

Struck in .999.9 fine gold with an unlimited bullion mintage, this is a standard bullion programme, not a limited collector release. The Royal Mint produces as many as the market demands, keeping premiums in line with the 1 oz gold Britannia rather than the inflated premiums attached to low-mintage collector coins. As UK legal tender with a GBP 100 face value, it carries the same CGT exemption that makes the Britannia attractive to UK investors.

The 2026 issue introduces a new reverse by Jonathan Olliffe, confirming this as a rotating-design series. Fractional sizes (1/4 oz and 1/10 oz gold, 1/2 oz silver) were added to the range from 2025, extending the programme beyond its initial 1 oz gold and silver offerings. The obverse carries the Martin Jennings portrait of King Charles III used across all current Royal Mint coinage.

Lion and The Eagle 1 oz Gold Specifications

Available Denominations

Design and Packaging

The 2024-2025 reverse by John Mercanti depicts the American bald eagle in the foreground gazing left, with the British lion standing behind it. The lion's paw extends beyond the central enclosed circle, creating a layered three-dimensional effect. The coin was originally titled "The British Lion & American Eagle" before being shortened to "The Lion and The Eagle" from 2026. The 2026 reverse by Jonathan Olliffe introduces a new composition, establishing the series as a rotating-design programme with new artists contributing to future issues.

Packaging follows Royal Mint bullion standards: individual capsules, tubes of 10 (gold) or 20 (silver), and monster boxes of 100 (gold) or 500 (silver). The coin uses standard Royal Mint anti-counterfeiting techniques including micro-text borders and surface-level security marks. It does not incorporate the four named security features found on the Britannia (latent image, surface animation, micro-text inscription, tincture lines).

Lion and The Eagle Tax Treatment by Country

UK

CGT-exempt. As UK legal tender from The Royal Mint, the Lion and The Eagle gold coin qualifies for Capital Gains Tax exemption under the same rules that apply to the Britannia and Sovereign. Sterling-denominated coins are not chargeable assets for CGT purposes. Gold is also VAT-exempt as investment gold. Silver versions carry 20% VAT at point of sale, but remain CGT-exempt.

United States

IRA eligibility is not widely confirmed by major US dealers for this series. The .9999 purity meets the IRS 99.5% threshold under Section 408(m), but custodian acceptance is at the discretion of each IRA provider. The Mercanti connection has driven strong US dealer interest (JM Bullion, BOLD Precious Metals carry the coin), but buyers planning an IRA purchase should confirm eligibility with their custodian before buying. Sales tax depends on the buyer's state. Long-term gains are taxed at the collectibles rate of 28% maximum.

EU

Gold coins are VAT-exempt under the EU investment gold directive. The coin meets all qualifying criteria (legal tender, post-1800, .900+ purity). Silver versions are subject to local VAT or margin scheme rules depending on the member state. Germany offers a notable advantage: capital gains on gold held for more than one year are entirely tax-free.

Australia

GST-free as investment-grade gold (.995+ purity from a sovereign mint). Capital gains tax applies at disposal, with a 50% discount for assets held more than 12 months.

Canada

GST/HST-exempt as a qualifying foreign legal tender gold coin at .995+ purity.

Singapore and Hong Kong

Singapore: GST-exempt as Investment Precious Metals. Hong Kong: no sales tax or import duty applies. Neither jurisdiction imposes capital gains tax.

Lion and The Eagle vs Britannia, Eagle, and Maple Leaf

The most obvious comparison is with the Royal Mint's own 1 oz gold Britannia. Both are .9999 fine, both are UK legal tender, both are CGT-exempt for UK residents, and both have unlimited bullion mintages. The Britannia has decades of market history, global recognition, and four named anti-counterfeiting features introduced in 2021 (latent image, surface animation, micro-text, tincture lines). The Lion and The Eagle has none of those security features. For pure investment purposes, the Britannia is the safer choice based on established liquidity and dealer familiarity.

The Lion and The Eagle's distinctive angle is the transatlantic design concept and the Mercanti pedigree. For US buyers, the Mercanti name carries recognition built on three decades of the American Silver Eagle's reverse. The coin was launched during a deliberate Royal Mint expansion into the US bullion market, and the designer choice is a direct play for American buyer interest. Compared to the 1 oz American Gold Eagle (22kt, .9167 purity), the Lion and The Eagle offers higher purity and a more modern design approach, though it lacks the Eagle's deep US market liquidity and straightforward IRA eligibility.

Against the 1 oz gold Maple Leaf, the Lion and The Eagle matches on purity (.9999) but falls short on security (the Maple's Bullion DNA system versus no specific named technology). The rotating-design format (Mercanti for 2024-2025, Olliffe for 2026) may generate mild collector interest that could support secondary market premiums, though this is speculative for a series only two years old.

The coin makes the most sense for buyers who want CGT-exempt UK legal tender gold with a design that stands out from the established options. It carries the same tax advantages as the Britannia with a different aesthetic. For buyers outside the UK, the Britannia's established reputation and superior security features make it a stronger default choice.