Bullion sales soar to record for Mint

THE Royal Mint has seen sales of its bullion coins soar to a new record high as Britons flock to invest in precious metals amid turmoil in the financial markets.

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The UK’s official maker of British coins said the surge reflects people turning to so-called “safe haven” assets in a bid to protect their wealth.

Between January and March, revenue from bullion coins was quadruple the amount generated in the same period a year ago, The Royal Mint revealed.

It also jumped 46% when compared with the previous three months, between September and December.

The coins are made from precious metals including gold, silver and platinum and feature different designs, and are typically sold as an investment product. The Royal Mint said it reflected the strongest start to the year since it first started selling the coins online.