(Kitco News) - Gold isn’t just glittering—it’s outperforming expectations, and investors in the UK are taking notice in a big way.
On Monday, the Royal Mint released official sales data for the first quarter of the 2025-2026 financial year. The Mint reported that online bullion sales reached record levels between April and June—not just in gold, but also in silver and platinum.
“Gold set five new all-time highs in GBP, peaking above £2,500 in April, driving unprecedented engagement from UK investors,” the Mint said in a press release. “Online bullion coin sales (gold, silver, and platinum) achieved the second-highest levels on record, with revenue remaining robust at 115% above the same period last year, despite a natural 17% decline from the record-setting Q4 tax year-end.”
The report also noted strong demand for alternative precious metals, with silver prices breaking through £27 per ounce in June for the first time since 2011. Silver sales rose by 51%, while platinum sales surged by 188% compared to the same quarter last year.
However, higher prices in the precious metals sector also created a strong two-way marketplace. The data showed a record number of customers selling precious metals back to the Royal Mint’s vaults across all three metals. The value of gold coins sold reached an all-time high, increasing 75% quarter-on-quarter and 55% year-on-year.
“Despite record sell-back activity, gold coin purchases still outweighed sales by a 6:1 ratio, demonstrating continued demand for the precious metal,” the Mint said.
The Mint highlighted a notable transaction in which one customer purchased bullion in October 2024 and sold the position in June for a £70,000 Capital Gains Tax (CGT)-free profit. All gold, silver and platinum bullion coins produced by the Royal Mint are classified as CGT-free investments.
“This quarter demonstrated a remarkable evolution in UK precious metals investing. We’re seeing strategic behaviour from investors looking to rebalance portfolios and rotate into silver and platinum,” said Stuart O’Reilly, Market Insights Manager at the Royal Mint. “The fact that silver and platinum activity has surged alongside gold’s rally shows UK investors are becoming increasingly aware of the value of other precious metals, with silver and platinum often following gold’s lead during major rallies.”
It’s not just physical bullion that’s seeing unprecedented demand. The Mint said its DigiGold products also experienced strong growth, particularly in silver and platinum.
“Digital Gold sales rose 103% year-on-year, while Digital Platinum sales soared 798%, and Digital Silver sales rocketed 1,158% compared to Q1 2024,” the Mint reported.
