The Trial of the Pyx is an annual ceremony that verifies the quality and accuracy of the nation’s coinage. Established over 700 years ago, it is one of the country’s oldest judicial traditions and plays a vital role in ensuring that all coins produced at The Royal Mint meet the highest standards.
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What Does Pyx Mean?
The word ‘pyx’ derives from the Latin pyxis, meaning “small box.” In the context of the Trial of the Pyx, it refers to the chests used to store and transport coins. Throughout the year at The Royal Mint, coins are randomly selected from each batch of every denomination produced, sealed in bags of 50, and secured in Pyx chests, where they are held until they are tested at the Trial.
How Are the Coins Tested?
Each coin is checked to ensure it meets the specifications set out in the relevant section of the Coinage Act or Royal Proclamation. The ‘Pyx packets’ containing 50 coins each are drawn from the chests, and each member of the jury selects a coin at random, placing it into a ceremonial copper bowl before them for testing. Once the formal proceedings conclude, the Trial continues at the Assay Office, where the coins undergo rigorous examination—being precisely weighed, carefully measured, and analysed to verify the composition of their metals.
Who Sits on the Jury?
The ceremony brings together the Chancellor of the Exchequer (or their nominated representative), leading figures from the financial sector, representatives of The Royal Mint, and the freemen of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths—better known as The Goldsmiths’ Company. The traditions behind the Trial are centuries old, but they still feel very much alive today. Set in the impressive surroundings of Goldsmiths’ Hall, you’ll see jurors in robes, historic wooden chests, and polished copper bowls.
2025 Trial of the Pyx Coins
Collectors can own a coin that has been tested at the Trial, adding a genuine piece of numismatic history to their collection. The coins from the 2025 Trial of the Pyx are available now, each featuring a unique and exclusive privy mark inspired by the original indented alloy plates used during the Trial. Every limited-edition release is presented in specially designed packaging that highlights its role in this historic ceremony. With designs celebrating everything from music legends and iconic films to royal beasts and prehistoric creatures, there’s something to capture every collector’s interest
