Royal Mint

The Royal Mint is the name of the body permitted to make (mint) coins in the United Kingdom. Their work and history is discussed below.

The Royal Mint originated over one thousand years ago, but is now (since 1975) a Government Trading Fund, operating in much the same way as a government owned company, that not only mints coins for the UK, but also mints and exports coins to many other countries. It also produces military medals, commemorative medals and other such items for governments, schools and businesses.

The mint is now on a single site in Llantrisant, South Wales.

Coins produced for the UK government must be checked for size, weight and chemical composition at an annual Trial of the Pyx.

History

The Royal Mint first became a single institution in 886, when minting operations were centralised in the Tower of London.

Isaac Newton, who took up his post in 1696 is the best known Master of the Royal Mint. He unofficially moved Sterling to the gold standard from silver in 1717.

See also

• British coinage
• British banknotes
• Pound Sterling

External links

• Royal Mint (http://www.royalmint.com)
• Isac Newton - Royal Mint site (http://www.royalmint.com/about/newton.asp)