Buying gold from The Royal Mint
The Royal Mint sells its own Britannias, Sovereigns and bars direct, with free UK delivery, a vault and a buyback service. Buying direct usually costs more: on 10 October 2026 its 2027 1oz Britannia was 7.13% over spot, while Chards sold a Britannia at 2.80%. Proof coins cost far more again.
Every Britannia and Sovereign in a UK dealer's catalogue was struck in one place: The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, South Wales. So when people search for "Royal Mint gold", they are really asking two questions. Which Royal Mint products are worth buying for their gold? And is it better to buy them from the maker or from a dealer? This guide answers both with prices we checked ourselves.
What gold does The Royal Mint sell?
The Royal Mint sells gold in two very different ways, and mixing them up is the most expensive mistake a new buyer can make.
- Bullion (its "Invest" range) is priced on the live gold price plus a modest premium, the extra you pay over the metal's value. When we checked on 12 October 2026, the gold bullion coin range included the 2027 Britannia (1oz and 1/2oz, plus ten-coin tubes), a Best Value Britannia, the 2027 Sovereign, Double Sovereign, Half Sovereign and Quarter Sovereign, and some 1/4oz designs such as The British Lion.
- Commemorative and proof coins (its "Collect" range) are made for collectors and gift buyers. They come in limited editions with boxes and certificates and are priced as collectables, not as gold.
Its gold bars run from 1g to 100g as minted bars (Britannia-branded bars, cheaper Best Value bars, and designs such as Lakshmi, Ganesh and Kaaba), plus cast bars in 500g and 1kg. Details of each coin are in our Britannia, Sovereign, Half Sovereign and Quarter Sovereign guides, and the bar range is covered in our Royal Mint bars guide.
Why do Royal Mint proof coins cost so much more?
A proof coin is struck several times on hand-polished dies, which gives mirror-like fields and frosted designs. It is made in small numbers and sold in a presentation case. All of that costs money, and the price reflects rarity and finish, not gold content. To show the size of the gap, we read both prices on The Royal Mint's site at about 07:00 UTC on 12 October 2026, when spot was £3,163.24 an ounce.
| Coin | Gold | Edition | Price | Over gold value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Britannia 2027 1oz bullion | 1 troy oz, 999.9 fine | Not limited | £3,317.15 | 4.87% |
| 2026 Britannia UK 1oz Gold Proof | 31.21g, 999.9 fine (about 1.003 oz) | Limited Edition 250 (maximum mintage 360) | £4,905.00 | 54.55% |
GoldVetted automated read, 12 October 2026, about 07:00 UTC. Spot £3,163.24 from gold-api.com. Over gold value = price ÷ (fine gold in oz × spot) − 1. The bullion price was lower than in our 10 October check below because premiums and prices move between checks.
The proof cost £1,587.85 more than the bullion coin for roughly the same gold. Bullion dealers buy coins back on their gold content, so a proof bought for £4,905 would typically fetch a bullion-based price unless a collector pays more. If your aim is to own gold at the lowest cost, the bullion range is the relevant one. If you want a gift or a collectable, the proof is a different purchase altogether; our guide to bullion vs collector coins explains the trade-off.
Is it cheaper to buy Royal Mint gold direct or from a dealer?
Specialist dealers buy Royal Mint coins in bulk and resell them, often at a lower premium than The Royal Mint charges itself. Our automated checks read the single-coin price on each seller's product page and compared it with the spot price, the wholesale market price of gold.
| Coin (date checked) | The Royal Mint | Premium | Cheapest dealer | Premium | Extra paid direct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1oz Britannia (10 Oct) | £3,397.16 (2027) | 7.13% | Chards, best value, £3,259.95 | 2.80% | £137.21 |
| Full Sovereign (10 Oct) | £807.30 (2027) | 8.14% | Hatton Garden Metals, mixed years, £767.48 | 2.81% | £39.82 |
| Half Sovereign (12 Oct) | £406.67 (2027) | 9.20% | Hatton Garden Metals, best value, £396.76 | 6.54% | £9.91 |
GoldVetted price check, 10 October 2026 (21:13 to 21:15 BST, spot £3,171.03) and 12 October 2026 (06:31 to 06:34 UTC, spot £3,163.74). The dealers' cheapest coins were mixed or older years; the Royal Mint coins were the new 2027 issue. Hatton Garden Metals' Sovereign was out of stock at the check. Later readings: premium tracker and the UK premium report.
What this means for you: on a single 1oz Britannia, buying direct cost £137.21 more than the cheapest dealer coin. Some of that is the newer year, since current-year coins carry a small extra premium everywhere. On a like-for-like 2027 Sovereign, Chards charged £777.47 (4.14%), still £29.83 less than buying from the maker. The gap is smaller on Half Sovereigns because every seller's premium is higher on small coins. Head-to-head detail is in Royal Mint vs Chards and Royal Mint vs Atkinsons.
Compare Chards' Britannia price
What about Royal Mint gold bars?
Bars follow the same pattern. On 12 October 2026, The Royal Mint's Best Value 100g bar cost £10,706.92, 5.28% over a gold value of £10,170.21, and its Britannia 100g bar £10,717.08 (5.38%). In the same check, Hatton Garden Metals sold a best value 100g bar for £10,450.94, 2.76% over. Unlike coins, bars are not legal tender, so a gain on selling one can be liable to Capital Gains Tax. See our 100g gold bar guide for the full comparison.
Why buy direct at all?
There are real reasons some buyers still choose The Royal Mint:
- Who you deal with. The Royal Mint Limited is owned by HM Treasury, according to Companies House, so there is no doubt about authenticity.
- New-year and special coins. It has every current-year design, privy-marked anniversary Britannias and limited editions, sometimes before dealers.
- One account for everything. Buying, storing, selling and delivery all happen in the same login.
- Free UK delivery by Royal Mail Tracked 48, according to its fees page.
The trade-off is price. In every coin and bar we compared, a specialist dealer was cheaper. Our full Royal Mint review scores it against the same checks we use for every dealer.
See The Royal Mint's bullion range
How does The Royal Mint Vault work?
The Royal Mint runs its own storage facility at Llantrisant, called The Vault. Gold bought there can be stored rather than delivered. The Royal Mint says vaulted bars are independently audited, fully insured and held outside the banking system, and you can ask for delivery of part or all of your holding at any time. Fees are charged quarterly in arrears on the average daily value, with no minimum charge.
| What you hold | Yearly fee | Cost on £10,000, incl. 20% VAT | Fee to sell back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coin tubes and larger bars | 1% + VAT | £120 | 2% |
| Single coins in capsules; bars 1g to 1oz | 2% + VAT | £240 | 2% |
| DigiGold | 0.5% + VAT | £60 | 1% |
Source: The Royal Mint storage, delivery and buy-back fees page. Cost examples are our arithmetic, assuming the value stays at £10,000 for a year.
Storage costs add up over time. Ten years at 2% plus VAT is 24% of the value, which is far more than the saving from any premium. Compare home storage, deposit boxes and other vaults in our UK gold storage guide, or see how a specialist vault compares in BullionVault vs Royal Mint.
What is DigiGold?
DigiGold lets you buy gold by value from £25, backed by a share of physical bars in The Vault. You cannot have it delivered. The Royal Mint states that DigiGold is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), so the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) do not cover it, and it is not a coin, so it does not share the Capital Gains Tax exemption. The FCA explains what this means on its unregulated products page. The Royal Mint also offers gold for certain SIPP and SSAS pensions through pension providers; pensions have their own rules, set out neutrally in our guide to gold in a SIPP or ISA. We describe these products for information only.
Are Royal Mint gold coins tax-free?
Two taxes matter. VAT: investment gold, including Britannias, Sovereigns and bars, is exempt from VAT under HMRC's rules, from The Royal Mint or anyone else. Capital Gains Tax: Britannias and Sovereigns are UK legal tender, and HMRC's Capital Gains Manual (CG78305) treats them as sterling currency, so UK residents pay no CGT when they sell at a gain. That applies to proof Britannias as well as bullion ones. Royal Mint bars and DigiGold do not get this exemption. Our UK gold tax guide covers allowances and record keeping. Note that storage fees carry VAT even though the gold does not.
How do you sell gold back to The Royal Mint?
- Vaulted gold: request a sale in your account. The Royal Mint charges 2% on gold coins and bars and 1% on DigiGold.
- Gold held at home: fill in its online quote form. This covers bullion bought elsewhere too, as long as it is 22 carat or above. It aims to reply within 24 hours.
- Send the items as instructed. The Royal Mint checks purity on arrival.
- Get paid: funds reach your bank within two working days of approval; it says the process can take as little as five working days from arrival.
It does not quote for jewellery, cutlery or medals. Always get a second quote, because buyback prices vary by dealer; our guide to selling gold in the UK lists the main buyers and shows recent bid prices.
Pros and cons of buying from The Royal Mint
Pros
- The maker of Britannias and Sovereigns, owned by HM Treasury
- Full current-year and limited-edition range
- Free UK delivery
- Storage, buyback and DigiGold in one account
- Buys back bullion bought elsewhere (22 carat and above)
Cons
- Higher coin and bar premiums than specialist dealers in our checks
- Proof coins priced far above their gold value
- Vault fees of 1% to 2% plus VAT a year
- 2% fee to sell vaulted gold
- Bullion and DigiGold are not FCA regulated
Step by step: buying Royal Mint gold
- Decide: bullion or collectable? For gold at the lowest cost, stick to the Invest range, not proofs.
- Check spot. Note today's gold price in pounds so you can work out any premium.
- Price the same coin at two or three dealers. Our list of the best places to buy gold in the UK covers the main ones; for Britannias and Sovereigns, a mixed-year coin is usually cheapest.
- Choose delivery or storage. Work out the yearly vault fee before choosing The Vault.
- Keep your invoice. You will need it for any future sale and for tax records on bars.
Gold prices can fall as well as rise. This page is general information, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is Royal Mint gold cheaper bought direct?
Not in our checks. On 10 October 2026 The Royal Mint charged £3,397.16 for a 2027 1oz Britannia (7.13% over spot), while Chards sold a best value Britannia at 2.80%. Its 2027 Sovereign was 8.14% over spot against 2.81% at Hatton Garden Metals. Dealers sell the same Royal Mint coins, often for less.
What is the difference between Royal Mint bullion and proof coins?
Bullion coins are struck in large numbers and priced close to the value of their gold. Proof coins are struck several times on polished dies, sold in limited editions with presentation boxes, and priced as collectables. On 12 October 2026 the 2026 1oz Britannia gold proof cost £4,905, about 55% above its gold value.
Are Royal Mint gold coins free of Capital Gains Tax?
Britannias and Sovereigns (including Half and Quarter Sovereigns) are UK legal tender, so HMRC treats them as currency and UK residents pay no Capital Gains Tax on gains (manual CG78305). Royal Mint gold bars and DigiGold are not currency, so gains on them can be taxable. See our UK gold tax guide.
Does The Royal Mint buy back gold?
Yes. Gold held in its vault can be sold from your account for a 2% fee. Bullion you keep at home, including coins and bars bought elsewhere, can be sent in after an online quote, as long as it is 22 carat or above. It does not buy jewellery, cutlery or medals.
How much does The Royal Mint Vault cost?
1% plus VAT a year for coin tubes and most bars, and 2% plus VAT for single coins in capsules and bars up to 1oz, charged quarterly on the average daily value with no minimum charge. On £10,000 of single coins that is about £240 a year including VAT.
What is Royal Mint DigiGold?
DigiGold is a way to buy gold by value from £25, backed by a share of physical bars held in The Royal Mint's vault. It costs 0.5% plus VAT a year and carries a 1% fee to sell. You cannot take delivery, and The Royal Mint states it is not regulated by the FCA.
Is The Royal Mint owned by the government?
Yes. Companies House lists the Solicitor for the Affairs of His Majesty's Treasury, as nominee for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as holding 75% or more of The Royal Mint Limited. Government ownership does not bring FCA protection for bullion, which is unregulated.
Sources
We checked these primary and official sources when writing and fact-checking this page.
- The Royal Mint: Gold bullion coins range (Britannia, Sovereign, Double, Half and Quarter Sovereign)
- The Royal Mint: Gold bullion bars range (1g to 100g minted, 500g and 1kg cast)
- The Royal Mint: 2026 Britannia 1oz Gold Proof Coin (£4,905, 31.21g, 999.9, Limited Edition 250, read 12 Oct 2026)
- The Royal Mint: Best Value 100g gold bullion bar (£10,706.92 on 12 Oct 2026)
- The Royal Mint: Storage, delivery and buy-back fees
- The Royal Mint: DigiGold
- The Royal Mint: Sell your gold, silver and platinum
- HMRC Capital Gains Manual CG78305: Sovereigns and Britannias are currency
- Companies House: The Royal Mint Limited, persons with significant control
- FCA: Unregulated products and activities
Not financial advice. GoldVetted provides general information to help you compare options. It is not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Gold prices go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you pay. Check tax rules with the official source or a qualified adviser before you act.