A note on the numbers. This piece was published on 23 December 2025 and every figure in it describes that moment, not today. For reference, gold was about £3,420 per troy ounce as at 27 August 2026. The value of gold can fall as well as rise, and past performance is not a guide to future returns.
One of our clients, Elaine, was profiled in The Telegraph under the headline:
"I spent £120k on 28 gold coins. I've already made £16k in profit."
The piece follows Elaine's journey from curious first-time buyer to a six-figure portfolio of Royal Mint gold coins, and what the position looked like on paper at the time of writing. Elaine works with Bullion Club to build and manage the collection, focusing on high-quality legal-tender coins that combine long-term gold exposure with the tax treatment available to UK investors.
Why Elaine chose Royal Mint gold coins
The article sets out the reasons investors like Elaine had been turning to Sovereigns and other Royal Mint issues:
- Each gold Sovereign contains 0.2354 troy ounces of gold, far above its nominal £1 face value
- Rarer or more desirable coins can command premiums in excess of £1,000 per piece
- Because qualifying Royal Mint coins are UK legal tender, gains for UK taxpayers can be exempt from Capital Gains Tax, unlike most gold bars or overseas-minted coins
The article also cited market figures as they stood in December 2025: the number of customers buying bullion Sovereigns direct from the Royal Mint was up by over 30pc on the year, the total value of those sales was more than 70pc higher, and the sterling gold price had risen by more than 50pc over 2025. Those numbers describe that year, not this one; the point that survives them is the direction of demand.
The realities behind the returns
The piece is candid that there is more here than a headline gain, and we go through the same points with every new client:
- Premiums over spot. Coins are always priced above raw metal value, reflecting craftsmanship and demand. Buying with the right guidance matters.
- Condition and grading. Coins are graded on a scale of one to seventy, and the grade, and its protection over time, has a significant effect on resale value.
- Storage and insurance. Many investors choose professional vaulting rather than keeping large values at home. How our storage works.
Our role in Elaine's journey
Bullion Club's work with Elaine has focused on three things: keeping the collection to Royal Mint legal-tender coins that qualify for the CGT exemption, prioritising independently graded and encapsulated examples, and making sure premiums, liquidity and storage were understood before anything was bought. Her story is her own, and she was happy for The Telegraph to tell it.
Read the full article at The Telegraph
Questions the piece raised?
Fifteen minutes with a specialist, ask anything, decide nothing on the day.