This photo taken on June 30, 2026 shows electronic components waiting to have the gold chemically removed at The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, south Wales. At the heart of Britain's coin factory, old Bank of England telephones are stripped down and dipped into giant vats to recover a hidden treasure: the gold in their circuits. Behind barbed wire and coded security gates at its site near Cardiff in Wales, the Royal Mint -- the state-owned maker of Britain's coins -- is turning electronic waste into luxury jewelry. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH Britain-gold-currency-environment,REPORTAGE by Lucie LEQUIER

This photo taken on June 30, 2026 shows a worker removing silver bullion bars from a string tool at The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, south Wales. At the heart of Britain's coin factory, old Bank of England telephones are stripped down and dipped into giant vats to recover a hidden treasure: the gold in their circuits. Behind barbed wire and coded security gates at its site near Cardiff in Wales, the Royal Mint -- the state-owned maker of Britain's coins -- is turning electronic waste into luxury jewelry. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH Britain-gold-currency-environment,REPORTAGE by Lucie LEQUIER

This photo taken on June 30, 2026 shows a man working in the medals section at The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, south Wales. At the heart of Britain's coin factory, old Bank of England telephones are stripped down and dipped into giant vats to recover a hidden treasure: the gold in their circuits. Behind barbed wire and coded security gates at its site near Cardiff in Wales, the Royal Mint -- the state-owned maker of Britain's coins -- is turning electronic waste into luxury jewelry. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH Britain-gold-currency-environment,REPORTAGE by Lucie LEQUIER

This photo taken on June 30, 2026 shows silver bullion coins at The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, south Wales. At the heart of Britain's coin factory, old Bank of England telephones are stripped down and dipped into giant vats to recover a hidden treasure: the gold in their circuits. Behind barbed wire and coded security gates at its site near Cardiff in Wales, the Royal Mint -- the state-owned maker of Britain's coins -- is turning electronic waste into luxury jewelry. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH Britain-gold-currency-environment,REPORTAGE by Lucie LEQUIER

This photo taken on June 30, 2026 shows a jewellery assembler working with recovered gold at The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, south Wales. At the heart of Britain's coin factory, old Bank of England telephones are stripped down and dipped into giant vats to recover a hidden treasure: the gold in their circuits. Behind barbed wire and coded security gates at its site near Cardiff in Wales, the Royal Mint -- the state-owned maker of Britain's coins -- is turning electronic waste into luxury jewelry. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH Britain-gold-currency-environment,REPORTAGE by Lucie LEQUIER

This photo taken on June 30, 2026 shows a gold bullion coin at The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, south Wales. At the heart of Britain's coin factory, old Bank of England telephones are stripped down and dipped into giant vats to recover a hidden treasure: the gold in their circuits. Behind barbed wire and coded security gates at its site near Cardiff in Wales, the Royal Mint -- the state-owned maker of Britain's coins -- is turning electronic waste into luxury jewelry. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH Britain-gold-currency-environment,REPORTAGE by Lucie LEQUIER

This photo taken on June 30, 2026 shows the tarnished hands of jewellery assembler John Powell as he speaks at The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, south Wales. At the heart of Britain's coin factory, old Bank of England telephones are stripped down and dipped into giant vats to recover a hidden treasure: the gold in their circuits. Behind barbed wire and coded security gates at its site near Cardiff in Wales, the Royal Mint -- the state-owned maker of Britain's coins -- is turning electronic waste into luxury jewelry. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH Britain-gold-currency-environment,REPORTAGE by Lucie LEQUIER

This photo taken on June 30, 2026 shows jewellery assembler John Powell speaking at The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, south Wales. At the heart of Britain's coin factory, old Bank of England telephones are stripped down and dipped into giant vats to recover a hidden treasure: the gold in their circuits. Behind barbed wire and coded security gates at its site near Cardiff in Wales, the Royal Mint -- the state-owned maker of Britain's coins -- is turning electronic waste into luxury jewelry. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) / TO GO WITH Britain-gold-currency-environment,REPORTAGE by Lucie LEQUIER