The Royal Mint Precious Metals Quarterly Statement | July–September 2026

• Revenue from silver bullion purchases on royalmint.com has surged 295% in the first nine months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, while platinum bullion revenue rose 118%, with demand already exceeding any previous full year.
• Gold bullion coin purchases increased 21% quarter-on-quarter, signalling renewed investor interest following a period of market uncertainty.
• Almost three in ten customers purchasing precious metals during the quarter were first-time buyers, with new customer numbers increasing 13% compared with the previous quarter.

21 OCTOBER 2026

The Royal Mint has reported record-breaking demand for silver and platinum bullion in 2026, as investors increasingly look beyond gold to diversify their precious metals holdings.

New figures from The Royal Mint reveal that revenue from silver bullion purchases on royalmint.com increased by 295% during the first nine months of 2026, compared with the same period in 2025. Platinum bullion revenue also rose by 118%, with both metals surpassing every previous full-year total, with a quarter of the calendar year still remaining.

Silver bullion coins have been particularly popular, with revenue increasing by 323% year-on-year across the first three quarters. The figures point to growing interest in silver as investors explore different ways to hold physical precious metals, including UK bullion coins.

The exceptional growth in revenue has been driven largely by a surge in buying activity during the opening months of 2026. Across all bullion products, the value of precious metals purchased by customers increased 39% in the first nine months of 2026 compared with the equivalent period last year.

Meanwhile, there are encouraging signs of renewed momentum in gold bullion coins following a period of market uncertainty. Revenue from gold coin purchases increased 21% between July and September compared with the previous quarter, while revenue is up 10% across the first nine months of the year, versus the same period in 2025.

The Royal Mint also continues to attract new investors to precious metals. First-time buyers accounted for 29% of purchasing customers during the quarter, with the number of new customers increasing 13% compared with April to June, despite a challenging investment landscape.

Stuart O'Reilly, Private Wealth Consultant at The Royal Mint, commented:

"2026 has been an extraordinary year for silver and platinum. While gold has traditionally dominated conversations around precious metals investment, the growth we’ve seen in these two metals is remarkable. Silver bullion coins have been a particular standout.

"Much of this year's record-breaking demand came during the opening months of 2026, during a period of heightened activity in precious metals markets. What's particularly interesting now is that we're beginning to see renewed momentum in gold coin purchases too, following a period of turmoil which saw some investors sitting on the sidelines.

"The increase in first-time buyers is also encouraging. Almost three in ten customers purchasing precious metals this quarter were new to The Royal Mint's precious metals investment offering, demonstrating that new investors continue to enter the market despite the challenging investment landscape. 

"Looking ahead, the final quarter of 2026 could bring further market volatility, with the UK Budget, US midterm elections and ongoing uncertainty around interest rates all potentially influencing investor sentiment and demand for precious metals. While the direction of precious metals prices remains uncertain, our figures suggest that interest in holding physical precious metals continues to be strong.”

Please note, figures are from July–September 2026.