Royal Mint Gold Review 2026
An honest, detailed look at The Royal Mint's gold investment products — DigiGold, Britannias, Sovereigns, and gold bars. We cover pricing, fees, storage, the mobile app, tax advantages, and who this platform is best for.
Capital at risk. Not financial advice or a personal recommendation.
The Royal Mint is the best choice for beginners who want a trusted, straightforward way to start investing in gold. With DigiGold from just £25 and CGT-free Britannia coins, it offers a genuinely accessible entry point. The mobile app is excellent and the brand carries unmatched credibility as the official UK Mint.
However, it is not the cheapest option. Premiums run 1-2% higher than competitors like BullionVault, and DigiGold storage fees (1% + VAT per year) are significantly more expensive than specialist platforms. If you are investing larger sums and prioritise low costs over brand trust, other platforms may serve you better.
Best For
Beginners & first-time buyers
Minimum Investment
£25 (DigiGold)
Our Rating
4.5 / 5
Pros & Cons
- Official UK Mint with over 1,100 years of heritage — ultimate trustworthiness
- Start from just £25 with DigiGold — genuinely accessible
- CGT-free Britannia and Sovereign coins available
- Modern, well-designed mobile app for buying and selling
- Free educational resources and investment academy
- 24/7 buying and selling on DigiGold — no waiting for market hours
- Higher premiums than specialist competitors — typically 1-2% more than BullionVault
- DigiGold storage at 1% + VAT per year is expensive compared to 0.12% at BullionVault
- Some user reports of slow delivery during peak demand periods (e.g. Christmas, market surges)
Royal Mint Gold Products
From £25
minimum purchase
How It Works
- - Buy gold in pounds sterling — no need to buy a full bar or coin
- - Gold is physically allocated and stored at The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Wales
- - Buy or sell 24/7 through the website or mobile app
- - Option to convert holdings into physical coins or bars for delivery
- - Real-time pricing updated continuously
Key Details
Gold Britannia
- - Available in 1oz, 1/2oz, 1/4oz, and 1/10oz sizes
- - 999.9 fine gold (24 carat)
- - UK legal tender — exempt from Capital Gains Tax
- - VAT-free (investment gold)
- - New designs released annually
- - The 1oz Britannia typically offers the lowest premium per gram
Gold Sovereign
- - Contains 7.32g of pure gold (22 carat, 7.98g total)
- - Available as full and half Sovereigns
- - UK legal tender — exempt from Capital Gains Tax
- - VAT-free (investment gold)
- - Lower entry price than Britannias — popular with new investors
- - Historical designs carry additional collector interest
Tax Advantage
Both Britannias and Sovereigns are UK legal tender, making any profits exempt from Capital Gains Tax. This is a genuine and significant advantage over gold bars, gold ETFs held outside an ISA, and DigiGold. See our tax-free gold UK guide for full details.
Available Sizes
- - 1 gram — entry-level, but very high premium
- - 5 grams
- - 10 grams
- - 1 troy ounce (31.1g) — best balance of size and premium
- - 100 grams
- - 1 kilogram — lowest premium per gram
Key Points
- - VAT-free (investment gold)
- - LBMA-accredited — globally recognised
- - Subject to Capital Gains Tax (unlike coins)
- - Lower premiums per gram than coins
- - Available for vault storage or home delivery
Pricing & Fees
All pricing is indicative and based on publicly available information as of January 2026. Premiums fluctuate with demand.
| Fee / Cost | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DigiGold buy/sell spread | ~2% | Spread varies with market conditions |
| DigiGold storage | 1% + VAT per year | Charged monthly on holding value |
| Britannia premium (1oz) | 4-6% over spot | Lower for larger sizes; can increase during high demand |
| Sovereign premium | 5-8% over spot | Historical Sovereigns may carry higher premiums |
| Gold bar premium (1oz) | 3-5% over spot | Decreases with bar size; 1kg bars have lowest premium |
| Delivery (physical) | Free over £500 | Royal Mail Special Delivery; insured |
| Buy-back | ~1-2% below spot | The Royal Mint will buy back its own products |
| Account fees | None | No setup, annual account, or inactivity fees |
Current gold price: £116.78 per gram (£3,632.27 per troy ounce). At this price, a 1oz Britannia would cost approximately £3,813.88 including a typical 5% premium. Use our gold calculator for live calculations.
User Experience
The Royal Mint website is clean, modern, and easy to navigate. The mobile app (iOS and Android) is one of the best in the gold investment space — intuitive with real-time pricing, portfolio tracking, and a smooth buying process. Regular updates and well-designed interface set it apart from competitors.
Straightforward account creation with standard identity verification. DigiGold purchases are instant. Physical coin and bar orders are confirmed quickly, though delivery can take 3-10 working days depending on demand. Payment by debit card or bank transfer. No hidden steps or confusing jargon.
DigiGold can be sold 24/7 with proceeds paid to your bank account within a few working days. For physical products, The Royal Mint offers a buy-back service at competitive rates (typically 1-2% below spot). You post the items back using their insured packaging. The process is reliable but not instant.
Tax Advantages
- UK legal tender coins are exempt from Capital Gains Tax — no matter how much profit you make
- No need to report gains on your tax return
- Applies to all Gold Britannias and Gold Sovereigns (any year)
- One of the most tax-efficient ways to hold gold in the UK
Learn more in our tax-free gold UK guide.
- All investment-grade gold (coins, bars, DigiGold) is exempt from VAT in the UK
- This applies to gold of 995 fineness or above for bars, and coins minted after 1800 with 900+ fineness
- Silver, platinum, and palladium are subject to 20% VAT, making gold the most tax-efficient precious metal
DigiGold Tax Position
DigiGold is not CGT-free. Profits on DigiGold holdings are subject to Capital Gains Tax in the same way as gold bars or gold ETFs held outside an ISA. If you are looking for tax efficiency, consider buying Britannias or Sovereigns instead, or explore holding gold ETFs in an ISA.
Who Should Use The Royal Mint?
- Are new to gold investing and want a trusted starting point
- Want to start small (from £25 with DigiGold)
- Prioritise CGT-free coins (Britannias and Sovereigns)
- Value brand trust and government backing over lowest cost
- Want a good mobile app experience
- Want the absolute lowest fees — BullionVault offers 0.5% commission and 0.12% storage
- Want the widest selection of coins and bars — BullionByPost has more variety
- Prefer to hold gold in an ISA for tax efficiency — gold ETFs in an ISA may suit you better
- Are investing £10,000+ regularly — specialist platforms offer better value at scale
How Does Royal Mint Compare?
| Feature | Royal Mint | BullionVault | BullionByPost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | £25 | £1 | ~£75 |
| Buy premium | 2-4% | 0.5% | 3-5% |
| Annual storage | 1% + VAT | 0.12% | Your responsibility |
| CGT-free options | Yes | No | Yes |
| Mobile app | Excellent | Functional | Mobile site only |
| Best for | Beginners, trust | Lowest costs | Physical variety |
See our full platform comparison for detailed reviews of all major UK gold investment platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Royal Mint is one of the most trusted places to buy gold in the UK. As the official maker of British coins for over 1,100 years, it offers unmatched legitimacy. Products include DigiGold from just £25, CGT-free Britannias and Sovereigns, and secure vault storage. However, premiums are higher than some competitors like BullionVault, so it is best suited to beginners and those who value trust over the lowest cost.
DigiGold lets you buy fractional ownership of physical gold stored in The Royal Mint vault. You can start from just £25 and buy or sell 24/7 through the Royal Mint website or app. The gold is allocated and stored securely at The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Wales. Annual storage costs are approximately 1% plus VAT, and the buy/sell spread is around 2%.
Yes. Gold Britannia coins are UK legal tender and are therefore exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT). This applies to all gold Britannias regardless of the year of issue. Gold Sovereigns are also CGT-free. This is a significant tax advantage compared to gold bars, gold ETFs held outside an ISA, and DigiGold. See our tax-free gold guide for more details.
Royal Mint premiums are typically 2-4% above spot price for DigiGold and 4-8% for physical coins. This is higher than BullionVault (around 0.5% commission) but comparable to other physical gold dealers like BullionByPost. Storage for DigiGold is 1% plus VAT per year, compared to 0.12% at BullionVault. The trade-off is unmatched trust and the convenience of an official government-backed mint.
Yes, you can convert DigiGold holdings into physical gold and have it delivered. However, you must accumulate enough DigiGold to equal a standard bar or coin size. Delivery is free on orders over £500. Alternatively, you can sell your DigiGold back to The Royal Mint at any time for cash.
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Important Information
This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, a personal recommendation, or an endorsement of any product or service. The value of gold and other investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
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Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change. The tax information provided is based on current HMRC guidance and could change in the future. Always verify tax information with HMRC or a qualified tax professional.
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