Royal Mint brings in easy way to authenticate gold bars after ‘unprecedented demand'
The Royal Mint has announced a new range of gold bars incorporating advanced security features currently used on its coins. These features allow investors to easily verify the authenticity of their purchase.
The Britannia bullion bar range includes four security elements, the first of which is latent imagery that functions as a hologram. When the bar is rotated, the image changes from a padlock to a trident.
The second feature involves micro detailing, which creates the illusion of waves rolling behind the figure of Britannia as the bar is turned.
Micro text is another feature, with an inscription reading: 'Decus et Tutamen' ('an ornament and a safeguard') surrounding Britannia, created using specialist lasers.
The fourth feature is tincture lines, depicting colours and patterns on metal.
The bars are also protected by tamper-proof packaging and extra layers of protection including a UV watermark and a serial number.
Andrew Dickey, director of precious metals for the Royal Mint, said: 'By extending these innovative security features to our bars, we're giving investors even greater confidence when purchasing our products.
'We have seen unprecedented demand for physical precious metals as investors increasingly look to diversify their portfolios through 'safe haven' assets.
'These new enhancements ensure authenticity and offer greater protection for investors, setting a new benchmark for excellence in the precious metals industry.
'The Royal Mint uses advanced picosecond lasers – technology used in medicine and aerospace – in the production of bullion products.
The technology enables the Mint to create complex designs using indents which are 200 times narrower than the width of a human hair. The gold Britannia bullion minted bar range, from 1g to 100g, is available to purchase from the Mint's website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Spectris accepts £3.8bn takeover offer from private equity group
Advent International is set to win the race to buy British scientific instruments maker Spectris after the two companies struck a £3.8billion takeover deal. The private equity firm has agreed to pay the FTSE 250 group's shareholders £37.63 per share in cash, including a 28p per share interim dividend, the pair said on Monday. Spectris told shareholders earlier this month it was 'minded to accept' a £3.7billion offer from Advent, which owns British defence giants Cobham and Ultra Electronics. But a few days later, it revealed it had rejected two rival proposals from New York-based investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR). Advent said Spectris was 'well-placed to capitalise on future growth opportunities in its core end markets' following a major restructuring undertaken by the group since 2018. This has included raising £1.3billion of capital through selling eight businesses as part of a portfolio rationalisation and investing in its two divisions, Spectris Scientific and Spectris Dynamics. Mark Williamson, chairman of Spectris, said: 'The Spectris management team have transformed the Spectris Group into a leading, sustainable business with high-quality premium precision measurement solutions. 'The board remains confident in Spectris' strategy and the opportunities that will be delivered over the medium term, but believes that Advent's offer recognises the attractiveness of Spectris and represents strong and immediate cash value for shareholders.' Spectris produces high-tech instruments, test equipment and software for industrial applications, including oxygen sensors for ventilators, portable gas analysers, and particle measuring systems. It was originally founded as the Fairey Aviation Company in 1915 by Richard Fairey to manufacture seaplanes. The group was acquired by educational publisher Pearson in 1980, underwent a management buyout in 1987, and was listed on the London Stock Exchange the following year. It adopted its current name in 2001 after purchasing four instrumentation and process monitoring businesses belonging to the German firm Spectris. Should Advent eventually snap up Spectris, it would represent the biggest takeover of a London-listed company this year. The deal would also constitute another blow to the London markets, which have lost multiple major firms to foreign predators taking advantage of discounted valuations in recent years. High-profile deals have included Thoma Bravo's acquisition of cybersecurity specialist Darktrace, Carlsberg's purchase of Robinsons squash maker Britvic, and EP Group's takeover of Royal Mail's parent company, International Distribution Services. And just in the past two months, there have been takeover agreements for takeaway giant Deliveroo, Northern Irish software developer FD Technologies, chip designer Alphawave, and consultancy business Ricardo. KKR and Stonepeak Partners put forward multiple offers for Assura, but the NHS landlord informed investors on Monday that it had backed a rival £1.8billion proposal from Primary Health Properties. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'The fact we've got two bid battles in Spectris and Assura just goes to show how the UK stock market continues to be on sale. 'If investors don't recognise the good value opportunities on offer, trade buyers or private equity firms will keep swooping on targets and pick them off one by one.'
Finextra
18 minutes ago
- Finextra
CI&T delivers prototype app for Project Nemo
CI&T, an AI and tech acceleration partner, has today announced Nemo, Art of the Possible — a groundbreaking prototype of a financial app created in collaboration with Project Nemo, the not-for-profit grassroots initiative driving to improve disability inclusion in the fintech and financial services industries. 0 Nemo was designed to support any adult with a learning disability in managing their finances more independently and safely. The prototype is a direct response to the Project Nemo report, Safe Spending for Adults with a Learning Disability, published earlier in June, developed by Firefish, sponsored by Nationwide and commissioned by Project Nemo, with support from Mencap and Dosh. The report exposed a stark reality: 38% of people with learning disabilities need ongoing help with everyday spending, and 32% do not have a bank account in their own name. It also highlighted how complex banking processes, inaccessible tools, and a lack of personalised support leave many financially excluded and at risk. CI&T's team engaged directly with individuals with lived experience — people with learning disabilities, carers, and accessibility experts — to design an app that addresses these challenges head-on. For the first time, this community has had a direct voice at the design table—an opportunity to share their needs and perspectives with the financial services industry. This marks a significant shift from the past, when individuals with learning disabilities had little choice but to accept what was offered. Now, their input provides valuable, practical insights that can help shape more inclusive and responsive banking services. In only six weeks, CI&T created Nemo, leveraging CI&T's enterprise-ready AI platform CI&T FLOW. Built with accessibility and ease of use as core principles, Nemo is a highly adaptive, inclusive digital product that empowers users to take control of their financial lives, while still allowing for trusted support where needed. While primarily designed for adults with learning disabilities, its advanced features and versatile configurability also significantly benefit neurodiverse individuals and anyone seeking greater confidence and support in managing their finances. Some of these features include: Supported decision-making: Users maintain complete control of their accounts; supporters can view and offer encouragement, but never act without explicit permission. Personalised onboarding: The app adapts to each user's confidence, habits, and accessibility needs. Calm mode: Reduces sensory overload and simplifies the interface during stressful moments. Emergency pot: A protected fund for unexpected needs, with optional spending locks and supporter assistance. Supporter Oversight: Trusted third parties receive real-time alerts and offer support while users remain in control. Learning over time: The app evolves with users, gradually unlocking more features as confidence grows. 'The path to true innovation is paved with diversity, accessibility, and inclusion,' said Solange Sobral, EVP & Partner at CI&T. 'This project truly reflects the Art of the Possible, and we hope it serves as a catalyst for financial institutions to lead the way in evolving digital products to be more inclusive. We're proud to partner with Project Nemo to build a solution that gives individuals with learning disabilities greater financial autonomy.' 'I'm incredibly thankful to the CI&T team for not only pulling this together so quickly, but also with such remarkable care, attention, and quality. This combination is rare and a true testament to a team and culture that performs exceptionally while engaging thoughtfully through the entire process. Seeing something so powerful created, something the community can now truly touch and interact with, is a profound way of giving voice to their needs.' said Joanne Dewar, Founder of Project Nemo. Some of the individuals with firsthand experience who collaborated on the prototype's development included Kris Foster, Co-Founder of Project Nemo and George Webster, a BAFTA-winning actor and presenter known from CBeebies and Mencap. Webster is featured in the prototype and presents in-app video explanations, such as for Terms and Conditions, to make them easier to understand. The app is not only a practical tool, but also a statement of intent. It demonstrates how the financial sector can and should evolve to serve everyone, not just those who fit the standard mould. It also shows that inclusive innovation doesn't require compromise, only the will to involve those most affected from the start. The launch marks a milestone in the movement for financial accessibility, a practical, purpose-driven solution that turns research into action and empowers a community that has waited too long to be included. With this launch, CI&T and Project Nemo are driving toward a more equitable financial future where independence and inclusion are within reach for everyone.
Finextra
18 minutes ago
- Finextra
GFO-X selects ION for market access, clearing, and margin processing
ION announces that it has partnered with GFO-X, the UK's first regulated, centrally cleared trading venue dedicated to digital assets. 0 A global leader in trading and workflow automation software, high-value analytics and insights, and strategic consulting to financial institutions, central banks, governments, and corporate organizations, ION will provide software and infrastructure to power market access, clearing, and margin processing for the GFO-X ecosystem. GFO-X will be supported on ION's front-to-back offerings, including XTP Execution, XTP Clearing, and ION's trade-processing platform, XTP. This integration ensures that a broad segment of the cleared derivatives industry can access GFO-X's crypto derivatives products from day one. Intermediaries and their end-clients can trade on GFO-X alongside other crypto derivatives products already offered by US exchanges. GFO-X is designed to bring digital assets into the mainstream through traditional market structures, supported by new technologies to solve the multiple risks associated with the digital asset market. By partnering with ION — whose technology underpins much of the traditional financial system — GFO-X enables market participants to trade and clear digital asset derivatives with the same reliability, security, and efficiency they expect from traditional markets. Arnab Sen, CEO at GFO-X says, 'We are delighted to announce our strategic partnership with ION. This collaboration evidences our shared commitment to innovation and excellence in the digital asset derivatives market. Working with ION allows us to use their expertise and cutting-edge technology to enhance our client connectivity and market infrastructure. Together, we are poised to deliver a seamless and secure trading experience for our clients, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the rapidly evolving digital asset space. 'Our partnership underscores our vision of creating a highly regulated and efficient market structure that meets the needs of large institutional participants. We believe that this collaboration will drive significant growth and diversification in the digital asset derivatives market, providing our clients with unparalleled opportunities,' Sen adds. Francesco Margini, Chief Product Officer for Cleared Derivatives, ION Markets, says, 'We're proud to support GFO-X in bringing the security and efficiency of the traditional markets to digital asset trading. Exchanges increasingly seek to partner with ION to remove the entry barriers represented by the significant technology investment required to support the trading and clearing of new products. The GFO-X launch demonstrates the industry's strong appetite to trade crypto derivatives across different regions and jurisdictions, and to trade all these products from a single technology platform.'
