For Rhian Mostyn Jones, wife of celebrity Welsh farmer Gareth Wyn Jones, investing in gold was less about following trends and more about regaining control over her finances.
In her 50s, Rhian works as a tour guide and manages PR for her husband, while living on Ty’n Llwyfan, the family hill farm in Llanfairfechan, North Wales, which has been in her husband’s family for over 350 years. Managing family and business life, she had always relied on traditional banks, until a frustrating experience trying to access a relatively small sum for a new business venture changed everything.
“It was only around £6,000, but I was questioned repeatedly and couldn’t move my own money freely,” she recalls. “I had to go into the bank, answer questions for 45 minutes, and they still wouldn’t let me use the money for our new business. That’s when I started to lose confidence in the system.”
That moment became a turning point. Seeking an alternative, Rhian began exploring gold investment, which had been recently discussed on the news and on social media. With political and economic uncertainty, and growing dependence on digital banking, Rhian decided she wanted to invest in an asset that was tangible.
In 2022, she made her first investment of £5,000 in certified gold coins. “With everything going on, and knowing how dependent we are on digital systems, I wanted something I could actually hold,” she explains. “If systems go down or access is restricted, gold is still there.”
Unlike savings accounts or ISAs, which she felt had delivered little return over the past decade; it provides both long-term growth and flexibility. The coins can be sold individually if needed, to support the family, invest in a new venture, or help her children as they start out. “I’ve got three children, and it’s reassuring to know I can pass something on or access it quickly if needed,” she says.
Another major factor for Rhian is that gold is not taxed. “Everyone is being taxed more these days,” she says. “People work hard all their lives, and when they save, it gets taxed and taxed again. With gold, I can protect my money for myself and for my children.”
For her daughter, who is at university studying photography, it provides a practical way to help her get started, for example building a studio or launching a small business. “She can cash in one or two coins, which could be much easier than trying to get a business loan,” Rhian explains.
Introduced through a trusted contact, Rhian chose Britannia Bullion for its straightforward, personal investment service. Despite initial hurdles with her bank that were reluctant to let her use her money to buy gold, she found the purchase process simple and transparent. She now plans to invest further, seeing gold as part of a long-term strategy alongside the family’s farming and business interests.
Her experience reflects a broader shift in gold investment, with more women looking beyond traditional financial products in search of security and growth. For Rhian, the appeal is clear. “There’s a freedom in it. Gold isn’t just about investment, it’s about keeping control of your own money, protecting it from taxes, and being able to use it when and how you need to, without having to ask your bank.”
Case Study: Samantha Nelson’s Gold Investment with Britannia Bullion
Could gold help women build greater long-term financial security?
More women are exploring alternative ways to diversify their savings and build long-term financial confidence, with physical gold increasingly attracting interest as part of wider financial planning strategies.
Matthew Jones, Precious Metal Analyst and Co-Founder of Britannia Bullion says that growing numbers of women are considering gold as a way to balance traditional savings and investments with tangible assets.
“Many women are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of diversification and looking beyond traditional pensions and cash savings,” says Matthew. “Gold has historically been viewed as a long-term store of value and a physical asset that can provide reassurance during periods of economic uncertainty.”
One woman who has chosen to invest in gold is Samantha Nelson, an interior designer from Croydon, who began building a collection of gold coins after looking for ways to make her savings work harder as part of her long-term financial planning.
“Many women are becoming increasingly aware of the savings gap and looking for ways to diversify beyond traditional pensions and cash savings,” says Matthew. “Gold has historically been viewed as a long-term store of value and a tangible asset that can provide reassurance during periods of economic uncertainty.”
One woman who has chosen to invest in gold is Samantha Nelson, an interior designer from Croydon, who began building a collection of gold coins after looking for ways to make her savings work harder as part of her long-term financial planning.
Discovering an Alternative Investment
Having previously sold a flat, Samantha had proceeds sitting in the bank but wanted to diversify part of her savings into a physical asset. After reading an article by Britannia Bullion on Facebook in December, she contacted the company to find out more and requested brochures to better understand the process before investing.
“I’m quite cautious when it comes to money,” Samantha explains. “I wasn’t going to invest a significant amount without making sure the company I was investing with was legitimate or understanding exactly how it worked.”
Samantha later visited Britannia Bullion’s office where she met with market experts including Matthew Jones and Jamie Davies, who guided her through the investment process and explained how physical gold can perform over the long term.
Building a Collection of Historic Coins
In March, Samantha made her first purchase of four one-ounce gold coins worth approximately £20,000 using a staged instalment payment plan starting with a £1,000 deposit. Encouraged by the experience, she later purchased two more coins worth £8,500.
Among her collection are highly sought-after coins from the Royal Mint’s Queen’s Beasts series, a popular collection inspired by the ten heraldic statues that stood guard at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.
Her collection includes:
- The Queen’s Beasts Completer Coin — a special edition featuring all ten Beasts together in a single design, including the Lion of England, Unicorn of Scotland, Red Dragon of Wales, and Greyhound of Richmond.
- The Greyhound of Richmond — one of the final designs in the Queen’s Beasts series, symbolising loyalty, courage, and royal heritage.
The Queen’s Beasts series has become particularly popular with collectors and investors due to its limited mintages, detailed designs by Royal Mint engraver Jody Clark, and status as legal tender UK coins, making them Capital Gains Tax exempt for UK investors.
Samantha says the presentation and traceability of the coins also impressed her.
“The coins are beautifully produced, certified and part of limited collections,” she says. “They arrived securely packaged in presentation cases with certification and traceable barcodes. I can track their performance online or via an app and knowing I can sell a coin if I need to and this gives me extra peace of mind.”
Seeing Gold as a Long-Term Asset
Samantha was particularly attracted to gold because of its tangible and low-risk nature.
“I see gold more like a currency than stocks or shares,” she says. “You can always sell a coin if you need to, and I don’t trust the banks to protect my money. That gives me real confidence in this investment.”
She plans to hold the coins for around 10 years as part of her long-term savings strategy and values the reassurance of having part of her savings invested in a physical asset.
Matthew Jones believes this reflects a wider shift in how some people are approaching financial planning.
“Gold is not about replacing traditional savings or investments,” he says. “For many people, it is about diversification and having part of their savings in a physical asset they can access and monitor over the long term.”
Benefits and Peace of Mind
Samantha also appreciates the practical benefits associated with investment-grade gold coins. Her Queen’s Beasts coins are VAT-free, Capital Gains Tax exempt, and were delivered fully insured.
Reflecting on her experience, Samantha “Britannia Bullion took time to explain everything clearly and never made me feel rushed,” she says. “That gave me the confidence to move forward.”
Today, Samantha continues to monitor gold prices and values the reassurance of having part of her savings invested in a tangible asset as part of her long-term financial planning.
