1 oz Robin Hood Silver Coin

The Robin Hood Silver Coin from The Royal Mint

The 1 oz Robin Hood silver coin is the inaugural design in The Royal Mint's Myths and Legends bullion series, released in 2021. Designed by Jody Clark, the reverse depicts Robin Hood perched on a tree branch in Sherwood Forest with his bow drawn, framed by dense oak foliage. The coin launched a three-part Robin Hood collection that also includes Maid Marian (2022) and Little John (2022).

As UK legal tender with a £2 face value, the Robin Hood coin carries CGT exemption for UK residents, the same tax advantage that makes the 1 oz Silver Britannia so popular with British investors. The silver is struck to 999.9 fineness, matching the Britannia standard. This means UK buyers get a themed collectible coin with identical tax treatment to the flagship bullion product.

The Robin Hood legend dates back roughly 800 years, with the earliest known literary reference in William Langland's Piers Plowman (c. 1377). Jody Clark, who also designed the Queen Elizabeth II coinage portrait used across the Commonwealth, brought an unusual artistic coherence to the coin by creating both the obverse portrait and the reverse scene. The 2021 and 2022 bullion issues carry the Elizabeth II portrait, while 2024 re-releases in proof format feature King Charles III.

Robin Hood 1 oz Silver Coin Specifications

Robin Hood Collection Formats

The 2024 re-releases added proof versions and a cupro-nickel collector coin to the Robin Hood collection. The 2 oz silver proofs, with mintages of just 510 and 506 pieces, are genuine rarities by Royal Mint standards.

Robin Hood Silver Coin Tax Position

The Robin Hood coin inherits the standard Royal Mint legal tender tax treatment, which gives it a distinctive advantage in the UK market.

• United Kingdom: CGT-exempt as UK legal tender denominated in sterling. Silver coins are subject to 20% VAT on purchase (the margin scheme may reduce this on secondary-market coins to the dealer's profit margin only). The CGT exemption means profits on disposal are entirely tax-free, regardless of the gain. For large or long-term gains, this exemption can more than offset the initial VAT cost.
• United States: IRA-eligible, as it meets both the sovereign mint and .999+ purity requirements for silver. However, not all custodians may list Royal Mint Myths and Legends coins specifically. Gains are taxed at the collectibles rate of up to 28%. State sales tax varies.
• European Union: Gold versions are VAT-exempt under the EU investment gold directive. Silver coins are subject to local VAT rates. The 10 oz silver format is popular with European buyers seeking to minimise per-ounce VAT impact.
• Canada: Standard bullion treatment. GST/HST-exempt at .999 purity.
• Australia: Gold versions are GST-free. Silver may qualify for GST exemption at .999 purity from qualifying dealers.
• South Africa: Silver bullion is subject to 15% VAT. No exemption for foreign silver coins.

The Outlaw of Sherwood Forest on Silver

Robin Hood was a deliberate choice to launch the Myths and Legends series. He is arguably the most internationally recognisable figure from British folklore, a character whose appeal transcends the UK market in a way that King Arthur or Beowulf may not. The legend originated in medieval English ballads, with Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire as the traditional setting. The Major Oak, a tree in Sherwood Forest said to have sheltered Robin Hood, is estimated to be 800-1,000 years old and remains a visitor attraction.

Jody Clark's design places Robin Hood in this woodland setting, perched on a branch with his longbow drawn, surrounded by oak foliage. The composition emphasises the outlaw's connection to the forest rather than depicting him in combat or in the company of his Merry Men. The companion coins add depth: Maid Marian is shown as an active warrior with bow and quiver, a leading figure among the outlaws rather than a figure requiring rescue. Little John stands tall with his quarterstaff.

The 2021-2022 original issues carried Jody Clark's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, making them the only Robin Hood coins with the late Queen's likeness. The 2024 re-releases bear the Martin Jennings portrait of King Charles III. This monarch transition adds a layer of historical interest to the earlier strikes, though it does not affect the bullion value or legal tender status.

The Robin Hood coin's broader context within The Royal Mint's output matters for collectors. It follows the Queen's Beasts (2016-2021, heraldic animals) and runs alongside the Tudor Beasts (2023 onward). Each series uses the same multi-design bullion format with proof variants, targeting collectors who buy complete sets. The Robin Hood arc was fully released within two years (2021-2022), making it a compact and completeable collection.

Robin Hood vs Britannia and Other Royal Mint Themed Coins

The most relevant comparison for buyers is against the 1 oz Silver Britannia. Both are 1 oz Royal Mint silver, both are CGT-exempt, and both are .999+ fine. The Britannia carries four advanced security features (latent image, surface animation, micro-text, tincture lines) that Robin Hood lacks, and the Britannia's unlimited mintage and global dealer recognition make it significantly more liquid on the secondary market. Buyers sell Britannias quickly at tight bid-ask spreads; Robin Hood coins may take longer to find the right buyer, though the themed design can attract a small collector premium.

The gold version of the Robin Hood coin includes a micro-dot table texture security feature, but the silver version relies on Royal Mint provenance and standard minting quality for authentication. This is a practical consideration for buyers planning to resell: a Britannia can be verified visually using its security features, while a Robin Hood coin requires trust in the packaging and dealer chain.

Against non-Royal Mint options, the Robin Hood coin's CGT exemption is its decisive feature for UK buyers. A 1 oz Silver Maple Leaf or 1 oz Silver Philharmonic may carry lower premiums, but profits from selling them are subject to CGT at the individual's marginal rate. For a UK buyer expecting substantial gains, the Robin Hood's higher purchase premium is offset by zero tax on the exit.

The 10 oz silver Robin Hood coin (89 mm diameter, 6 mm thick) occupies a more distinctive niche. Few sovereign mints produce 10 oz bullion coins, and the substantial physical size offers a lower premium per ounce than the 1 oz version. For buyers in VAT jurisdictions, the 10 oz format also reduces the per-ounce impact of fixed shipping costs.