The Royal Mint is the body permitted to make (mint) coins in the United Kingdom.
The Royal Mint originated over one thousand years ago, but it has functioned since 1975 as a Government Trading Fund, operating in much the same way as a government-owned company. It 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 operates on a single site in Llantrisant, South Wales.
The annual Trial of the Pyx checks coins produced for the UK government for size, weight and chemical composition.
History
The Royal Mint first became a single institution in 886, with the centralisation of minting operations in the Tower of London.
Isaac Newton, who took up the post of Warden of the Mint in 1696, became perhaps the best-known Master of the Royal Mint. He unofficially moved Sterling to the gold standard from silver in 1717.
See also
External links
Last updated: 10-16-2005 11:16:57
