Now Representing: The Royal Mint Museum

The story of 'minting' coins

In the second half of the 9th century AD, during the reign of King Alfred the Great, the English Monarchy established the importance and value of coinage. Coins were primarily used for commercial transactions, but also held a secondary function as a way for the Kingdom to communicate with its people.

The Royal Mint was founded as an institution to fulfill these purposes in 886 AD, but was only one of many mints throughout the Kingdom at the time.

Over the centuries, it has evolved into a sophisticated institution, serving as an important timeline of Britain’s history. Today, 15% of the world’s coin-based currency is produced by the Royal Mint, manufacturing and producing coins for 60 other countries.

The collection today

The Royal Mint has exceptional equipment, principally to mint coins but it also produces outstanding military medals such as the Victoria Cross, as well as unique seals, artwork and trial platters and weights.

Today, some of the most outstanding collections are on display at the Royal Mint Museum, situated in Llantrisant, South Wales. They include Pistrucci’s jasper cameos, the First Great Seal of Queen Victoria, as well as the nested weights of  ‘Queen Anne’s Pile', The Sunbather bronze statue and thousands of coins from around the world.

On 2nd March 2015, the fifth definitive coinage portrait of Her Majesty The Queen was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in London. It will be used on all British circulating coins made from now onwards.

See all images from the Royal Mint Museum in the archive
 

The Royal Mint family

Throughout its long and diverse history, many artists, scientists and collectors have worked for the Royal Mint, contributing immensely to its rich development. Famous figures such as Benedetto Pistrucci and William Wyon played major roles in the formation of some of the most distinguished coin designs.

In the spring of 1696, Sir Isaac Newton was appointed Warden of the Royal Mint and he became an honourable member of the Mint's family history. 

Archaeological ‘finds’ in recent years

Whether a commercial diversification, a treasured historical source or simply an artistic material for collectors, coins play a major role in a nation’s past and evolution.

In July 2009, in a Staffordshire field, the largest UK hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure was discovered. It consisted of about 1,600 items, including helmet parts and processional crosses. The coins are from the reigns of Aethelred the Unready (978-1016) and King Cnut (1016-35), and were buried towards the end of Cnut’s reign. This rare treasure is currently on display at the British Museum.