On July 21, the Royal mint released official data for the first quarter of the 2025-2026 financial year, showing that online precious metals sales reached a record high in the period from April to June not only for gold but also for silver and platinum.
Gold prices set a new record of five for the British bang, surpassing £2,500/ounce in April, boosting unprecedented interest from British investors.
Online bullion (gold, silver and platinum) sales hit second highest in history, with revenue increasing by 115% over the same period last year, despite a natural decrease of 17% compared to the fourth quarter which was the peak period at the end of the fiscal year the press release said.
The report also recorded strong demand for alternative precious metals, with silver prices surpassing £27/ounce for the first time since 2011. Silver sales increased by 51%, while platinum sales skyrocketed by 188% compared to the same period last year.
However, the rising price of precious metals also created a vibrant two-way market, as the number of customers reselling gold, silver and platinum to Royal mint's archives also set a record. The value of gold bars sold increased by 75% compared to the previous quarter and 55% compared to the same period last year.
Although reselling activity has reached a record high, the amount of gold coins purchased is still 6 times the amount sold, showing that demand for gold continues to be strong, said Royal mint.
The agency also mentioned a case of a customer who bought bullion in October 2024 and resold it in June, earning a profit of £70,000 without having to pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT). All gold, silver and platinum coins produced by Royal mint are classified as investment exempt from VAT.
This quarter shows a clear change in the way UK investors approach the precious metal. We are seeing strategic behavior from investors as they restructure their portfolios and shift to silver and platinum Mr. Stuart OReilly - Director of Market Analysis at Royal mint commented.
The strong increase in silver and platinum in parallel with the increase in gold shows that British investors are increasingly aware of the value of other precious metals, which often follow the trend of gold during strong increases, said this expert.
Not only physical gold, Royal mint's digital products also recorded a sudden increase. DigiGold sales increased by 103% over the same period last year; DigiPlatinum increased by 798%, while DigiSilver increased by 1,158% compared to the first quarter of 2024.
