British Royal Mint

The Royal Mint

The Royal Mint is a top name in the industry. With a history dating back to 1,100 years ago, it should come as no surprise that the Royal Mint is home to some of the most popular coin programs on the market. Learn more about the Royal Mint and their bullion products right here, at BGASC.

Royal Mint History

The Royal Mint used 886 AD as its starting point. That being said the exact date that this mint was founded is unknown. However, the history of British coins in general dates back to 60 BC. Celtic tribes began hammering coins featuring the likeness of local leaders.

In 886 AD Alfred the Great captured London and in turn, established a London Mint. For the next 400 years, this London location served as the primary minting location for British coins. This being said, there were many other mints around Britain as well during this time.

In 1279, all of these various locations were unified into a single system that would eventually be known as the Royal Mint. The London Mint was in operation for well over 500 years until 1812. As demand grew and the London Mint became outdated, the Royal Mint was moved to Llantrisant, Wales where it’s still headquartered to this day. Today, the Royal Mint makes more than 3 billion coins and blanks a year.

British Britannia Series

The most well-known bullion coin program from the Royal Mint is the official bullion coin program of the country, the British Britannia Series. In 1987, the British Gold Britannia debuted. For the 10th anniversary, British Silver Britannia Coins were released. After being released annually every year since the Platinum Britannia was introduced in 2018.

Gold coins in the series from 1987 until 2012 were made with .917 gold, while silver coins from their debut until 2012 were produced with .958 silver. Beginning with the 2013 releases, each coin received a big upgrade in terms of purity. Coins issued from 2013 and on are made with .9999 gold and .999 silver respectively.

These coins are named after their reverse design which showcases Britannia, the female personification of the country. While different designs have been used, the most common and well-known is Phillip Nathan’s which shows the figure standing on a coast, looking out to the sea. Wearing a Corinthian helmet, she holds a trident in one hand and the Union Jack shield in the other.

The obverse shows the reigning British monarch. Over the years, a handful of designs have been used, which include the following:

• 1987-1997: Raphael Maklouf’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
• 1998-2015: Ian Rank-Broadley’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II
• 2016-2023: Jody Clark’s depiction of Queen Elizabeth II
• 2023-Present: King Charles III designed by Martin Jennings

Queen’s Beasts and Tudor Beats

When Queen Elizabeth II was coronated at Westminster Abbey in 1953, ten statues were created paying homage to her genealogy. These statues served as the basis for this iconic Royal Mint series – the Queen’s Beasts Series.

The series debuted in 2016 with one coin, From 2017 to 2020, 2 new coins were issued each year. One final coin was issued in 2021, completing the series.

Coins are available in 2 oz and 10 oz silver BU strikes. Proof strikes are also available in several weight options. Gold coins are also available in a 1/4 oz and a 1 oz size. A 1 oz platinum coin was also introduced in 2017.

Designs in order of release include the Lion of England, the Griffin of Edward III, the Red Dragon of Wales, the Unicorn of Scotland, the Black Bull of Clarence, the Falcon of the Plantagenets, the Yale of Beaufort, the White Lion of Mortimer, the White Horse of Hanover, and the White Greyhound of Richmond.

After the release of all 10 designs, the Royal Mint created a Completer Coin featuring all 10 Queen’s Beasts.

This series was followed up by the Tudor Beasts Series. Rather than paying tribute to the Queen and her bloodline, the Tudor Beasts Series focuses on the House of Tudor which ruled the throne from 1485 to 1603. This series, similar to the Queen’s Beasts Series, will be issued in gold, silver, and platinum with proof strikes being available as well.

The planned releases in the Tudor Beasts Series are as follows – the Seymour Panther, the Lion of England, the Yale of Beaufort, the Bull of Clarence, the Seymour Unicorn, the Tudor Dragon, the Greyhound of Richmond, the Royal Dragon, the Queen’s Lion, and the Queen’s Panther.

British Sovereign

In an attempt to replace banknotes, modern British Sovereigns were first issued in 1817. While the gold content fluctuated over time, they are now made with 91.67% gold. The reigning British monarch is shown on the obverse while the reverse features the iconic image of St. George slaying a dragon. This design was created by Benedetto Pistrucci.

British Bars

The Royal Mint also creates several popular cast bars and minted ingots. One option is their line of Britannia Bars. These bars, made in gold and silver, show a right-profile portrait of Britannia. Another popular option is the Royal Celebration Bar. These bars commemorate the ascension to the throne by King Charles III and are available in 1 oz gold, 1 oz silver, and 10 oz silver.

The Royal Mint Questions

Questions about the Royal Mint? Contact the BGASC team today. We can be easily reached via email, through our online chat feature, or by giving us a call at 888-992-4272.