The Royal Mint History

Few nations can trace their coinage roots back as far as Great Britain, where coins first circulated in the second century BC after it was introduced by Celtic tribes. While various mints sprang up and disappeared over the next several centuries, the beginning of the continuous history of the Royal Mint is traced to 886 AD, when Alfred the Great began issuing coins carrying his likeness.

In 1279, the Royal Mint was centralized in the Tower of London, where minting operations remained until the early 19th century. By 1805, the British Empire was rapidly expanding around the world, and with a booming domestic and colonial population, the need for more coinage grew well beyond the scope of the quarters offered at the Tower of London. The Royal Mint’s new location at the Johnson-Smirke Building, opposite the site of the Tower of London, was made official in 1812. Coin manufacturing continued there through 1967, when Great Britain was embarking on its monumental transition to a decimal monetary system.

On December 17, 1968, the first phase of the Royal Mint’s new location in Wales officially opened. Over the next several years operations shifted to the facility in Wales until the last coin, a gold sovereign, was struck in London in November 1975. In the years following its move to Wales, the Royal Mint operated under tight financial conditions caused in large part by the economic recession that gripped much of the Western world during the 1970s and early ‘80s. To remedy the trying fiscal issues, the Royal Mint was established as a trading fund in the mid 1970s and in April 1990 became an Executive Agency, helping the Mint become financially independent.

Economic woes again affected the Royal Mint during the global financial crisis of 2008. Nearly facing complete privatization, the Royal Mint became a limited company and was subsequently renamed Royal Mint Ltd. Owned by the Royal Mint trading fund, which is itself a possession of Her Majesty’s Treasury, the Royal Mint Ltd. As the Royal Mint’s independence has grown, its line of coins and array of consumer offerings have also greatly expanded to include a multitude of commemorative coins, bullion products, and other popular products.

Among the biggest sellers are silver, gold, platinum bullion coins. These include the 1 oz. silver and gold Britannia coins, gold sovereigns, 1 oz. silver Landmarks of Britain series, 1 oz. silver and gold Lunar series, and the Queen’s Beasts bullion coins, which include a 2 oz. silver coin, 1 oz. gold coin, and 1 oz. platinum coin.

Royal Mint coins are trusted around the world, and you’ll find a wide variety of British coinage is available from Universal Coin & Bullion. We carry a tremendous selection of beautiful bullion and numismatic British coins for investors and collectors. The coins in our inventory meet the approval of Dr. Michael Fuljenz, who proudly serves as “America’s Gold Expert” and is a foremost authority on quality bullion and collectible coins.

To invest in British coins from the world-renowned Royal Mint, call Universal Coin & Bullion toll-free at 800.822.4653. Build your physical wealth with virtually pure silver, gold, and platinum coins from Great Britain today before prices rise.