The Royal Mint has warned customers to expect delays in silver coin deliveries as investors rush to buy physical precious metals amid a record-breaking surge in silver prices.
Spot silver surpassed $53 an ounce for the first time on Tuesday, driven by a short squeeze and tight supplies in the London bullion market.
The Mint said its operations were already managing a production bottleneck as its manufacturing teams transition from 2025 to 2026-dated coins. Its direct-to-consumer bullion business is on track for a record trading month, with daily gold sales up 69% on the previous month following gold’s climb to fresh all-time highs.
Gold and Silver’s Record Run: What It Means for Investors in 2025
Many buyers have also been motivated by the capital gains tax exemption available on select Royal Mint coins, ahead of the forthcoming UK Budget.
A Royal Mint spokesperson said:
“We have seen exceptional demand for physical precious metals in recent weeks, both in the UK and internationally. Momentum in metal prices has fuelled a rush of investors looking to secure gold, silver and platinum – particularly CGT-exempt Britannia and Sovereign coins.
“Fulfilling customer orders is our priority, and we have struck additional gold coins this week to ensure we can continue to meet demand. Our teams are working hard to replenish silver, and customers might see slightly longer delivery times when placing an order.”
The surge in demand mirrors the broader flight to safe-haven assets as global markets remain volatile amid renewed US-China trade tensions and growing geopolitical uncertainty.
