History of The Royal Mint
The Royal Mint traces its history back to the year 886. In 1279 it moved to a secure site in the Tower of London, and coin production in England was gradually centralised there. Most other mints were closed, apart from a few church and local ones.
The first gold sovereign was struck in 1489 to mark the reign of Henry VII. It is still The Royal Mint's flagship coin and a favourite with collectors. In 1662 the mint replaced hand striking with machinery driven by horses. In 1696 Isaac Newton became Warden of the Mint, and in 1699 its Master. In 1922 the Royal Mint Advisory Committee was set up to keep the design standard of coins and medals high.
The Royal Mint today
The mint strikes circulating coins as well as collector and bullion products. Its best-known lines include royal series and historic gold coins. The famous Britannia bullion series comes in sizes including:
The Britannia and Royal Tudor Beasts series are also struck in 999.5 platinum. The Royal Mint also sells silver, gold and platinum bars made from metal of the highest purity. Alongside cast bars, it offers minted bars such as:
The Royal Mint range also includes colour collector coins featuring Star Wars™.
