Stories
The Rarest Coins
Over 30 billion coins are estimated to be in circulation in the United Kingdom today. The Royal Mint has been creating coins since AD 886 and, as such, people across the country own coins which are no longer in use. Some of these coins could possibly be rare and might be very valuable.
Benedetto Pistrucci
Benedetto Pistrucci was born in Rome on 29 May 1784. While working in Italy, he gained a reputation as an outstandingly talented gem engraver. His fame spread far and wide and he was invited to come to England by the Prince Regent, the son of George III.
The Sovereign Reverse Designs
The Sovereign dates back to the Tudor era, when Henry VII ordered the issue of a large gold coin of 20 shillings. However, the modern Sovereign didn’t come into existence until 1817.
The story of The Sovereign – ‘chief coin of the world’
The Sovereign has a long and illustrious history. First struck more than 500 years ago, it remains the world’s oldest coin that is still in production today. Here we chart The Sovereign’s journey from inception, through retirement and revival, to the status it enjoys today as the ‘chief coin of the world’.
Happy Birthday Royal Mint Bullion - A Golden Five Years
The Royal Mint celebrates five years since the launch of our UK bullion platform for investors. In addition, we can also reveal a 38% compound annual growth rate in demand for precious metal investment products since 2014.
Royal Mint unveils Raris - the first of a kind solid gold payment card
In a glittering event held last night, The Royal Mint announced a very exciting addition to their existing line of products, the world’s first hallmarked precious metals payment card in association with Mastercard and Accomplish Financial.
A Royal Cypher Mint Mark Celebrates the First Monarch to Appear on the Modern Sovereign
To mark the 200th anniversary of the end of George III’s reign, all of the coins in The Sovereign 2020 Collection feature a special mint mark in the form of the king’s royal cypher.
This Christmas, Give the Gift of Gold
Many may hope for a white Christmas but this year, The Royal Mint is anticipating a golden Christmas with our 1g gold bar, which is set to be a perfect golden gift for any age this festive period.
The Gothic Crown – A Spook-tacular Halloween Coin
Reflecting the stunning Gothic style of the Victoria era, the coin has been a firm favourite with collectors for many years, and with such a low mintage, it is as sought-after as it is intricately designed.
The 2019 Christmas Silver Sixpence
The sixpence is used in a Christmas tradition that is believed to have been brought to Britain by Prince Albert. On the Sunday before Advent, families gathered in the kitchen to make the Christmas pudding and to mix in a silver sixpence.
Christmas Gifts for The Woman Who Has Everything
From the finest gold, bespoke jewellery to contemporary accessories that are just as unique as she is, discover our wonderful ideas for Christmas presents for women.
Christmas Gifts for The Man Who Has Everything
Are you struggling to complete the ultimate shopping challenge of finding a Christmas gift for a man who has everything? Discover our list of truly exceptional presents, beautifully presented in elegant boxes to make the perfect gift even more special.
Behind the Design: The Falcon of the Plantagenet’s and The Queen’s Beasts Collection
To mark the launch of the final two coins in the Falcon of the Plantagenet’s range, we caught up with Jody Clark, designer of the entire Queen’s Beasts Collection, which started with the Lion of England back in 2016.
The Story Behind The Falcon
At Her Majesty The Queen’s coronation in 1953, the Falcon of the Plantagenet’s took its place as one of The Queen’s Beasts, alongside the lion, unicorn, dragon, griffin, yale, greyhound, horse and white lion...
The Royal Mint Partners with NFL For 2019 London Games
We are delighted to reveal a special medallion to commemorate the NFL’s 100th season and the first NFL game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Gold Demand Spikes in Run-Up to Diwali
Diwali is the five-day festival of lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world. The date of Diwali changes every year, this year it will take place on Sunday, 27 October.
The History of the Coin Toss
With so many large sporting events occurring recently and over the coming months, at The Royal Mint we’ve been thinking about the coin toss and the effect that this simple act can have on the game itself.
A Golden Wedding Treasure Hunt
A Golden Wedding Treasure Hunt. Collecting every edition of the 50p can’t be that hard, can it? Determined to create a thoughtful and original gift for her husband on their golden wedding anniversary, Jean from Hampshire set out to do just that.
The Royal Mint Experience offer autism-friendly tours
In conjunction with the National Autistic Society, The Royal Mint Experience will be offering autism-friendly tours between 5-12th October as part of the Autism Hour campaign.
Invest: The White Lion of Mortimer
The latest coin in The Queen’s Beasts Collection from The Royal Mint has been released, continuing the heraldry-themed range.
10 Things You Need to Know About the White Lion of Mortimer
The White Lion of Mortimer has sometimes been portrayed as quite submissive. Royal Mint designer Jody Clark has given the animal a sense of dignity, others have given it a look similar to that of a begging dog.
Why Over Half of Brits Love Collecting
As keen numismatists and celebrators of all things commemorative, it’s no surprise that we love coin collecting at The Royal Mint. However, we were interested to find out just how common this passion is - which is why we recently commissioned a survey into attitudes towards collecting as a hobby.
The Royal Mint to launch gold backed ETC
The Royal Mint is set to become the first Sovereign Mint in Europe to launch a gold-backed ETC – leveraging our unique 1,100-year reputation for trust and security to provide a compelling, new opportunity for investors.
The First World War and The Royal Mint
In response to this year's marking of the 100th anniversary of the first remembrance ceremonies, The Royal Mint has procured a number of historic coins from 1919 – the year of the first ’Armistice Day’ ceremony.
Harry Brockway Explains His Remembrance 2019 Design
Somerset-based artist Harry Brockway's name will be familiar to many numismatists. Trained as a sculptor at the Royal Academy in London, he has produced a number of designs for The Royal Mint over the years, including the 2019 Lunar Year of the Pig design.
Chinese New Year Customs
Unlike New Year here in the United Kingdom, Chinese New Year doesn’t have a fixed date. Instead, it’s determined by the new moon that appears between 21 January and 21 February. Also known as the Spring Festival, in China the public holiday is the biggest celebration of the year. People greet each other with a hearty ‘Xin Nian Kuai Le’ (‘Happy New Year’).
The Story of the Rat and the Cat
The Chinese zodiac follows a 12-year cycle with each year characterised by a different animal. The rat is the first sign in the Chinese zodiac and in 2020, the cycle starts anew. But, how was the sequence decided? To find out, we have to delve deep into Chinese mythology.
Behind the Design with P. J. Lynch
In 2020, the Chinese zodiac starts over with a new cycle. By virtue of being the first lunar animal, the rat is in the ascendancy. People born in the Year of the Rat are considered intelligent, curious and optimistic. Naturally adaptable, they’re great at fitting in.
Makers of British Jewellery
The Royal Mint carefully selects jewellery designers based on their expertise and experience. Award-winning designers, including Sarah Jordan and Philippe Cogoli, have been heavily involved in creating the new ranges.
Do You Think You Could Pass The Royal Mint’s 1914 Entry Exam?
Ahead of the summer holidays and a well-deserved break, many of us will be either finishing exams or perhaps know someone who is. But spare a thought for the young men who wished to become clerks in The Royal Mint Operative Department back in 1914.
Launch of Motto – Our First Jewellery Range Made On-site
The Royal Mint is delighted to launch the latest line in our growing jewellery range – Motto.
Classic Coin Wedding Traditions
Coins play a part in wedding ceremonies in many different cultures and countries.
Coin Nicknames
Over the past few hundred years, many coins have taken on names that they were never originally supposed to have. Though many of these do not survive to the present day, we present to you a selection of our best attempts at referencing and researching the murky history of coin nicknames. Enjoy!
Why are some UK coins magnetic?
From time to time we’re asked the question, ‘Why are some coins magnetic?’ It’s one of those interesting facts that you seem to just stumble across. I discovered it when a loose coin stuck to the back of a fridge magnet in a drawer! So, let’s take a look at the science behind it and some fun facts we found along the way…
10 facts about Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill lived to the age of 90, and in those years he accomplished many things. Most of us will remember Winston Churchill, the politician, and he is certainly remembered for his contribution to the Second World War, but that is just one side of this great man’s story.
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was one of the most decisive battles in history, the final battle of the long running Napoleonic Wars. It brought over 20 years of conflict in Europe to an end and left a lasting legacy on the world.
1066, the Battle of Hastings – the date that made history, remembered.
1066, the date drummed into generations of schoolchildren, considered one of Britain’s most signicant battles on its own soil. The story has been kept alive for almost a millennium, with people travelling far and wide to glimpse the Bayeux Tapestry that tells its story.
The History of the Coin Toss
With so many large sporting events occurring recently and over the coming months, at The Royal Mint we’ve been thinking about the coin toss and the effect that this simple act can have on the game itself.
Coins in Great Works of Literature
Coins are such an intrinsic part of our lives and the team at the Royal Mint Museum have been leafing through their extensive library to find out how authors have used coins and money in their work.