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How Gold Coins Are Minted at The Royal Mint: A Behind the Scenes Look

  • Folton
  • Jun 18
  • 2 min read

When you hold a gold coin in your hand, whether it’s a classic Sovereign or a modern Britannia, you’re not just holding precious metal. You’re holding centuries of heritage, craftsmanship and innovation. But how exactly are these iconic coins brought to life?


At The Royal Mint, based in Llantrisant, South Wales, minting gold coins is a process that blends traditional techniques with cutting edge technology. Here’s a step by step look at how it all happens.


1. From Concept to Coin: Designing the Artwork

Every coin starts with an idea. Whether it’s to commemorate a historic moment, celebrate a reigning monarch or mark a national symbol, the design process is crucial. Talented artists and engravers either sketch by hand or use digital tools to create detailed designs.


Once complete, the design goes through a strict approval process. If the coin is to feature the monarch or be legal tender, it may even require Royal assent.


2. Crafting the Dies

With the design approved, the next stage is to create the dies – the tools that stamp the coin's design. These dies are carved in reverse using high precision laser engraving, often followed by hand finishing for extra detail.


They are then hardened under extreme conditions to ensure they can strike thousands of coins without losing definition.


3. Making the Blanks

Gold coins begin as blanks – plain, round discs made of fine gold. These are cut from rolled sheets of metal, carefully measured and polished to remove any surface imperfections. For bullion coins, The Royal Mint often uses 999.9 fine gold, ensuring purity and value.


Every blank is weighed and checked to ensure it meets the exact standards required.


4. Striking the Coin

This is where the magic happens.


Each blank is placed into a high pressure coining press, where it is struck between two dies. The immense force, sometimes several hundred tonnes, imprints the intricate design onto the coin’s surface.


For proof coins, which are produced to the highest collector standard, the coin may be struck two or more times. This creates ultra sharp details and a flawless, mirror like finish.


5. Quality Assurance

Every coin undergoes rigorous inspection before it leaves the Mint. This includes both visual checks and technical assessments using precision instruments.


Any coin that doesn’t meet The Royal Mint’s exacting standards is melted down and refined to start again. Waste is simply not an option when working with precious gold.


6. Final Touches: Packaging and Certification

Once approved, coins – especially limited edition or proof versions – are carefully packaged. Many are sealed in presentation boxes or tamper proof capsules to protect their condition. They also come with a certificate of authenticity, detailing weight, purity and often the mintage number.


A Legacy of Excellence

For over 1,100 years, The Royal Mint has produced the coins of the realm. Today, it stands as a global leader in precious metal refining and coin production. Whether you’re a collector, investor or simply curious, each gold coin tells a story – not just of Britain’s rich history, but of world class craftsmanship and enduring value.

 
 
 

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