History in your hands

Trial by jury

This handsome coin honours the 400th anniversary of the death of the Bard, with a design celebrating Shakespeare’s comedies. John Bergdahl has depicted the jester’s mask and stick, ready to be taken up each time the works are performed.

These special coins were chosen for testing at the Trial of the Pyx, the oldest and most exacting test of minting quality still in existence today. Since medieval times, coins chosen for inspection by jury have been transported in the wooden Pyx boxes that give the ceremony its name. And for the first time ever, coins that were used in the annual ceremony in London are available to buy.

Presented complete with a brochure, a letter and a book about the Trial of the Pyx from The Goldsmiths’ Company, with a certificate of authenticity hand-signed by Graeme Smith, The Queen’s Assay Master, each coin is testament to the pursuit of unrivalled accuracy.