15 years is a very big mistake especially for a gold coin.
I suggest that the coin is not what it appears to be.
A reputable coin dealer will be able to identify your coin and give a valuation if it turns out to be genuine.
Leo Britt died in 1979, in London, England, UK.
Lynn Britt was born in 1932, in London, England, UK.
Leo Britt was born on March 27, 1908, in London, England, UK.
The phrase was used on British coins and is short for Georgius V Dei gratia Britanniarum omnium rex, fidei defensor, India imperator. It is Latin and in English it means: George V, by the grace of God, King of all Britains [sic], defender of the faith, Emperor of India.
Well, you didn't specify the denomination, but let me tell you what the legends mean. 1896 is obviously the date on the coin, Victoria is who is depicted on the front of the coin. Dei Gratia means by the grace of god. Britt Regina means queen of the British. Fid def means defender of the faith, and Ind Imp means Empress of India. Put these together and you get part of Queen Victoria's royal title, Victoria, by the grace of God, queen of Britain, defender of the faith and empress of India. As for the mintmark M, this mintmark would only appear on the gold coins, the sovereign and the half sovereign for this date. The mintmark would be above the date on the reverse between the 8 and 9 on the ground with St. George slaying the dragon. This mintmark means the coin was minted in Melborne.
Britt Irvin goes by Britt.
Rob Britt's birth name is Robert Britt.
The address of the Britt Public Library is: 132 Main Ave S, Britt, 50423 1627
Your coin is either a gold Sovereign or a Half-Sovereign. A Sovereign is about 22mm in diameter and a Half-Sovereign about 19.3mm. The mintmark will be a small M, P or S indicating that the coin was minted at the Melbourne, Perth or Sydney Mint. Coins minted at the London Mint have no mintmark.
Elton Britt's birth name is Baker, James Britt.
Britt Ekland's birth name is Britt-Marie Eklund.
Charley Britt's birth name is Charles William Britt.