Complete Guide to The Royal Mint

By GovMint:

The Royal Mint boasts a history spanning centuries and stands as one of the oldest mints in the world that still produces coins for circulation and collecting to this day. This guide will explain everything you need to know about The Royal Mint, some of its most popular coins series, and more!

Table of Contents

• The History of The Royal Mint
• What Does The Royal Mint Do?
• Does The Royal Mint Make Coins for Other Countries?
• What Types of Coins Does The Royal Mint Create?
• Iconic Royal Mint Coin Designs
• Examples of The Royal Mint Coins
• Can You Buy Directly From The Royal Mint?
• Where to Buy Collectible Coins

What Is The Royal Mint?: The History of The Royal Mint

With over 1,100 years of history, The Royal Mint (also known as the British Royal Mint) is one of the oldest mints in the world as it traces its origins to the end of the second century BC in Britain. Initially, coins were produced through a casting method before gradually transitioning to hand striking over the following 1500 years. It wasn’t until the Romans left Britain starting around 410 AD that a London mint capable of regular operations was established in 650 AD. 

Despite its establishment, The Royal Mint faced uncertainty until after the reign of King Alfred the Great. Since that pivotal period, The Royal Mint has maintained an uninterrupted history of coin production and solidified its role as a currency supplier.

What Does The Royal Mint Do?

The Royal Mint produces currency for the United Kingdom. In addition to circulating coinage, the Mint produces gold and silver collectible and bullion coins, such as Gold Sovereigns or Silver Britannia coins. The Royal Mint both designs and strikes the coins that it produces.

What Types of Coins Does The Royal Mint Create?

The Royal Mint produces a diverse array of coin types that cater to different purposes and audiences, including coins for circulation, coins intended for collectors, and bullion coins for stackers. Among the notable and popular coin sets and types are the Sovereign, Britannia, and The Queen’s Beasts series, each with unique designs and cultural significance. In the following sections, we’ll dive into more detail about these coin types.

Iconic Royal Mint Coin Designs

Coins like the Sovereign and Britannia are some of the most iconic coins designed by The Royal Mint. The Sovereign, for example, has a legacy dating back to 1489. However, it wasn’t until around 1817 that Benedetto Pistrucci provided a new design featuring the image of St. George and the dragon, which has appeared on every Sovereign since 1871. 

In addition to the Sovereign and Britannia, other iconic coin designs of The Royal Mint include:

• The Queen’s Beasts Series
• Lunar Series
• Olympic and Paralympic Coins
• The Lion and The Eagle
• And more…

Examples of The Royal Mint Coins

The Britannia, The Queen's Beasts and Lunar series, and Olympic and Paralympic coins are some of the most iconic The Royal Mint releases, thanks to their beautiful designs and precious metal content. However, these special coins are also unique due to their historical significance.

• Britannia (1987) — The series started in 1987 and honors the symbol of British national identity and maritime heritage, depicting the iconic figure of Britannia on various coin denominations.
• The Queen's Beasts series (2016-2021)-Pays homage to the ten heraldic beasts during Queen Elizabeth II's coronation and marks Her Majesty as the longest-reigning monarch.
• Lunar Series (2014) — The Lunar Series was introduced in 2014, and it celebrates the Chinese zodiac by depicting the animals of the calendar year.
• Olympic & Paralympic Coins (2012) — These coins were produced for various Olympic and Paralympic Games. They commemorate the spirit of athleticism and inclusivity during these global events.
• Myths and Legends (2023) —The Myths and Legends coin collection was announced in 2023. The series features designs that honor the legendary King Arthur and celebrate the popular Arthurian myth.

The Royal Mint has also collaborated with various mints and organizations to create limited-edition coins. Collaborative projects include:

• James Bond Coins: In collaboration with EON Productions and Danjaq LLC, The Royal Mint released a series of James Bond-themed coins to celebrate six decades of 007™! 
• Beatrix Potter Coins: This coin series, developed in partnership with Penguin Random House UK, features characters from Beatrix Potter’s beloved children’s books Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-Duck.
• Peter Pan: Working with Great Ormand Street Hospital Charity and Walt Disney Company, The Royal Mint released a Peter Pan-themed coin series to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the first publication of J.M. Barrie's classic tale.
• Sherlock Holmes Coins: Based on the famous detective Sherlock Holmes, this coin edition was made in collaboration with the Conan Doyle Estate.
• Lion and Eagle: This limited edition coin features a lion and an eagle and was made in partnership with GovMint to commemorate the enduring relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States. The Royal Mint and GovMint are proud to be the official distributors of this coin.

Can You Buy Directly From The Royal Mint?

Coin enthusiasts can order coins through The Royal Mint as they ship internationally. Alternatively, online coin dealers provide deals on popular British coins like the Britannia, Queen’s Beasts, and The Lion and The Eagle series produced by The Royal Mint. For those looking to secure graded British coins, you will need to go to dealers like us here at GovMint. Not only are we the official distributor of The Lion and The Eagle coin series, but we also offer coins produced by The Royal Mint that have been certified and encapsulated by third-party experts like Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC).

Why Buy Collectible Coins from GovMint

Why should you choose GovMint for your coin purchases? With over 30 years of experience serving both seasoned and novice collectors, we are your trusted source for collectible coins. As an authorized dealer, we offer a diverse selection of coins and coin sets from The Royal Mint, including authentic vintage and modern collectible coins, as well as silver and gold bullion. Whether you're starting your coin collection or adding to an existing one, explore our website to discover coins from The Royal Mint and other collectibles.

Sources:

• https://www.royalmint.com/aboutus/our-history/ 
• https://www.royalmint.com/us/invest/silver-stackers/the-royal-mint-history-and-production-processes/
• https://www.history.org.uk/primary/resource/3851/roman-britain-a-brief-history
• https://www.royalmint.com/corporate/circulating-coin/
• https://www.royalmint.com/aboutus/
• https://www.numismaticnews.net/us-coins/united-states-mint-and-royal-mint-announce-collaborative-design
• https://www.usmint.gov/news/press-releases/united-states-mint-and-royal-mint-announce-collaborative-design
• https://www.royalmint.com/discover/sovereigns/history-of-the-gold-sovereign/
• https://www.numismaticnews.net/world-coins/concluding-the-queens-beasts-series
• https://www.royalmint.com/discover/britannia/britannia-on-british-coins/
• https://thecoincabinet.com/journal/the-queens-beasts-collection-a-series-of-10-coins-from-the-royal-mint-part-ii/
• https://www.royalmint.com/lunar/
• https://www.royalmint.com/aboutus/news/official-london-2012-olympic-and-paralympic-coins-revealed/
• https://coinweek.com/royal-mint-launches-first-coin-in-myths-and-legends-collection/
• https://www.royalmint.com/six-decades-of-007/
• https://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/events/beatrix-potter/
• https://www.countryliving.com/uk/news/a27939287/peter-pan-50p-coin-the-westminster-collection/
• https://www.royalmint.com/discover/uk-coins/2019-annual-sets/sherlock-holmes/
• https://www.royalmint.com/shop/limited-editions/the-lion-and-eagle/