Tag: Royal Mint

Royal Mint to build ‘world first’ plant to turn UK’s electronic waste into gold

  • Pioneering new technology enables The Royal Mint to recover precious metals from discarded electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptops
  • The first of its kind plant will provide a source of high-quality precious metals while offering a solution to significant and growing environmental challenges
  • Forms part of The Royal Mint’s reinvention and helps secure a future as a leader in sustainably sourced precious metals

The Royal Mint has announced plans to build a world first plant in South Wales to recover gold from UK electronic waste. The pioneering facility will help address a growing environmental issue, support jobs and skills in Britain, and create a new source of high quality precious metals for the business.

The Royal Mint is using patented new chemistry – created by Canadian based Excir – to recover gold within the circuit boards of laptops and mobile phones. The unique chemistry is capable of recovering over 99% of the precious metals contained within electronic waste – selectively targeting the metal in seconds.

Construction of the plant begins this month, and it will be located within The Royal Mint’s highly secure site to provide a stream of gold directly into the business. When fully operational in 2023, The Royal Mint expects to process up to 90 tonnes of UK-sourced circuit boards per week – generating hundreds of kilograms of gold per year.

In addition, the new business venture will support around 40 jobs, helping existing employees to reskill as well as recruiting new chemists and engineers.

Each year, more than 50 million tonnes of electronic waste is produced globally, with less than 20% currently being recycled. If nothing is done, this is set to reach 74 million tonnes by 2030.

Instead of electronic waste leaving UK shores to be processed at high temperatures in smelters, the approach will see precious metals recovered at room temperature at The Royal Mint’s plant in South Wales.

Embracing the principles of a circular economy, the plant will be able to process the entire circuit board – preserving natural resources for longer, helping to reduce the environmental impact of electronic waste and fostering new skills and employment in the UK.   

Anne Jessopp, Chief Executive of The Royal Mint, said: “We are transforming our business for the future – expanding into areas which complement our expertise in precious metals, champion sustainability and support employment.

“Our investment in a new plant will see The Royal Mint become a leader in sustainably sourced precious metals and provide the UK with a much-needed domestic solution to the growing problem of electronic waste.”

Sean Millard, Chief Growth Officer at The Royal Mint said: “Working with our partners Excir, we have introduced world first technology to the UK capable of recovering precious metals from electronic waste in seconds.

“This approach is revolutionary and offers huge potential to reuse our planet’s precious resources, reduce the environmental footprint of electronic waste and create new jobs.

“We estimate that 99% of the UK’s circuit boards are currently shipped overseas to be processed at high temperatures in smelters. As the volume of electronic waste increases each year, this problem is only set to become bigger.

“When fully operational our plant will be the first of its kind in the world – processing tonnes of electronic waste each week, and providing a new source of high quality gold direct to The Royal Mint.”

The Royal Mint celebrates the 250th Anniversary of Sir Walter Scott on official UK coin

  • The Royal Mint commemorates Sir Walter Scott on a £2 coin, to mark the 250th Anniversary of his birth
  • The launch celebrates a collaboration with Abbotsford, the famous home of Sir Walter Scott
  • The 250th Anniversary of Sir Walter Scott coin completes the individual release of commemorative coins in the 2021 Annual Set, available at The Royal Mint
Abbotsford House, The Home of Sir Walter Scott. Scottish Borders, Scotland, UK. The Royal Mint unveiled a commemorative £2 coin to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth. The coin is pictured with Matthew Maxwell Scott, a direct descendent and Trustee at Abbottsford – home of 19th century novelist and poet. Photo Phil Wilkinson

The Royal Mint, the Original Maker of UK coins, has today launched a commemorative £2 coin to honour the late Sir Walter Scott, 250 years after the great writer’s birth.

One of the most influential Scots in history, Sir Walter Scott is renowned for his contribution to literature with his novels and poems, many of which remain literary classics to this day.

Marking the 250th anniversary since his birth, Scott’s legacy has been celebrated for the first time on official UK coin. Available in gold, silver and brilliant uncirculated, the commemorative keepsake was first unveiled in the 2021 Annual Set and today launches as an individual collectors’ item at The Royal Mint.

Designed by textual artist Stephen Raw, the coin was inspired by the artist’s visit to Abbotsford, the famous home of Sir Walter Scott. On the canvas of a £2 coin, the words Sir Walter Scott and Novelist, Historian and Poet are inscribed in the same calligraphy seen at Abbotsford’s grand entrance and chapel. The design also includes Scott’s portrait modelled on the Scott Monument – one of Edinburgh’s most iconic landmarks.  

To celebrate the launch, the Original Maker collaborated with Scott’s Abbotsford home and Trustee and direct descendant, Matthew Maxwell Scott – the great, great, great, great grandson of the famous writer. 

Clare Maclennan The Royal Mint’s Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin said: “Sir Walter Scott’s status as one of Great Britain’s greatest writers endures 250 years after his birth and the anniversary celebration is a wonderful occasion to commemorate his legacy on a £2 coin.

“The exquisite design, with the inscription Novelist, Historian and Poet, reminds us of the wide-reaching influence of his work. What a treat is has been to reveal this collectable piece of art in collaboration with his great, great, great, great grandson Matthew Maxwell Scott and the fantastic team at Abbotsford, the famous home of Walter Scott, as part of their Anniversary celebrations.”

Matthew Maxwell Scott, Trustee at Abbotsford, said: “I’m extremely proud to see my ancestor recognised on a very special coin from The Royal Mint – a fitting tribute during a year of 250th birthday celebrations.

“It is a beautiful coin. Sir Walter was a collector of beautiful things and I think he would have loved to have this coin in his collection among the many treasures at Abbotsford.”

Giles Ingram, CEO at Abbotsford, said: “This year we are commemorating the 250th Anniversary of Sir Walter Scott, which is a great occasion to look at Scott’s work and legacy.

“At Abbotsford, we were delighted to be approached by The Royal Mint to collaborate with them on this beautiful coin. Recognising Scott as Novelist, Historian and Poet, 250 years after his birth on, such a beautiful coin and packaging, truly marks Scott as one of the world’s most famous writer’s and one of Scotland’s most influential sons.”

Speaking of the design, Stephen Raw, who also designed the Sherlock Holmes coin in 2019 and the First World War Armistice coin in 2018, said:

“Sir Walter Scott was such a fascinating character, there were so many routes that you could explore. Being a textual artist, I’m fascinated by lettering and I chose a combination of distinctive Gothic lettering from the chapel at Abbotsford alongside some lettering used by Scott in the magnificent entrance to his home.

“As for the portrait, I used the wonderful sculpture of Scott that sits within his monument on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. I hope that collectors enjoy the design and that when people see the coin, they might be encouraged to visit Abbotsford and the Scott Monument – the second largest such memorial to a writer in the world they say.”

More information about the coin, in a range of precious metals, can be found at The Royal Mint.

Coin title250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir. Walter Scott 2021 UK £2 Gold Proof Coin250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir. Walter Scott 2021 UK £2 Silver Proof Piedfort Coin250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir. Walter Scott 2021 UK £2 Silver Proof Coin250th Anniversary of the birth of Sir. Walter Scott 2021 UK £2 Brilliant Uncirculated Coin
Denomination£2£2£2£2
Issuing AuthorityUKUKUKUK
AlloyInner:  916.7 Au Yellow Gold, Outer:  916.7 Au Red GoldInner – 925 Ag/ Outer – 925 Ag plated with fine goldInner – 925 Ag/ Outer – 925 Ag plated with fine goldInner – Cupro-nickel/ Outer – Nickel-brass
Weight15.97g24.00g12.00g12.00g
Diameter28.40mm28.40mm28.40mm28.40mm
Obverse DesignerJody ClarkJody ClarkJody ClarkJody Clark
Reverse DesignerStephen RawStephen RawStephen RawStephen Raw
QualityProofProofProofBrilliant Uncirculated
Edge LetteringTHE WILL TO DO, THE SOUL TO DARETHE WILL TO DO, THE SOUL TO DARETHE WILL TO DO, THE SOUL TO DARETHE WILL TO DO, THE SOUL TO DARE
LEP1757711,771Unlimited
RRP£1,095.00£117.50£72.50£10.00

Commemorative coin marking Prince Philip’s ‘life well lived’ revealed for the first time

  • Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveils new coin commemorating the Duke of Edinburgh
  • Chancellor unveils new £5 coin commemorating the life of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
  • Coin presented on Armed Forces Day 2021, recognising the Duke’s years of naval service and support for Her Majesty The Queen.
  • Design features original portrait of the Duke and will be struck by the Royal Mint.


A new coin to commemorate the life of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, has been unveiled by the Chancellor today.

The special edition £5 coin features an original portrait of The Duke to celebrate his remarkable life. The coin’s design was approved by The Duke before his death in April this year and is being launched on Armed Forces Day 2021.

The Royal Mint will also make a £50,000 donation to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to support its important community work in the UK and internationally.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “This coin is a fitting tribute to The Duke of Edinburgh, who moved and inspired so many people around the world with his decades of service both to the nation and Her Majesty The Queen.

“I’m proud to unveil the coin on Armed Forces Day, considering his distinguished naval career and unwavering dedication to our Monarch and to his Royal duties, and it is only right that he and the Queen are depicted together on both sides of it.”

Anne Jessopp, Chief Executive of The Royal Mint, said: “Since the passing of The Duke of Edinburgh in April, many have commented that he led a life well lived. He was the longest serving consort in British history, and patron or president to over 750 organisations – including The Royal Mint Advisory Committee.

“The Royal Mint has marked significant Royal events for centuries and is honoured to unveil an original new coin which celebrates the life and legacy of a remarkable man. It feels fitting that this coin – which was personally approved by the Prince – will also support the work of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. The Awards have benefited millions of young people since they were formed in 1956, and are perhaps Prince Philip’s greatest legacy.”

Ruth Marvel, CEO of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards said: “This wonderful tribute will help us build on The Duke of Edinburgh’s legacy so more young people can start their DofE Award journey and develop the skills, resilience and self-belief they will need to successfully navigate the challenges of adult life.”

The coin will be available from the Royal Mint website today, as well as post offices around the United Kingdom and special stockists across the Commonwealth and worldwide.

The design was personally approved by The Duke of Edinburgh in 2008 and drawn by the acclaimed artist Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.

The Duke of Edinburgh was the longest serving consort in British history, and for decades provided steadfast support to Her Majesty The Queen and The Royal Family.

The coins you want to find in your loose change this D-Day

50th ANNIVERSARY: Decimal currency was introduced in the UK on 15th February 1971

The Royal Mint has posted the mintage figures for the calendar year of 2019, providing the only official guide to the rarest coins in circulation. 

In 2019 over 500 million coins were released into circulation, including three new 50 pence designs celebrating Arthur Conon Doyle’s iconic Sherlock Holmes, and Paddington the Bear at St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London.

The figures were revealed ahead of the 50th anniversary of Decimalisation, which takes place today (15th February 2021) and saw the introduction of many of the coins used today. 

The changeover inspired thousands of people to become coin collectors, and over the decades the 50 pence grew to become Britain’s most collectable coin.

The shape of the 50 pence made it the ideal canvas for special commemorative designs, and over 70 events, anniversaries and individuals have been celebrated on circulating 50 pence pieces.

The famous 2009 Kew Gardens 50p (top) remains the most coveted coin in circulation, with a mintage of just 210,000. Other rare designs include the 2011 Olympic 50p’s and the highly collectable Peter Rabbit 2018 coins.

The Royal Mint’s Director of UK Currency, Mark Loveridge, said: “The 50p was introduced as part of decimalisation and has grown to become Britain’s favourite coin. The innovate shape of the coin makes it perfect for commemorative designs, and over the years we’ve commemorated many iconic occasions, events and individuals on a 50p.

“Coin collecting remains as popular as ever, and we were delighted to release a number of special designs into circulation in 2019. The Kew Gardens remains the most coveted coin, with a mintage of just 210,000 but it’s always exciting to find a special design in your change. As we approach the 50th anniversary of decimalisation, we are proud that this iconic work of art remains in the nation’s pocket.”

In addition to making coins for the UK, The Royal Mint is also the world’s largest export mint and produced around three billion coins and blanks for 30 countries in 2019-20.

Rarest 50p designs released into circulation in 2019

2019 COINSTOTAL MINTAGE FIGURES
50P SHERLOCK8,602,000
50P PADDINGTON AT THE TOWER9,001,000
50P PADDINGTON AT ST PAUL’S9,001,000

Rarest 50p designs in circulation:

MINTAGE YEAR50 PENCE COINSTOTAL MINTAGE FIGURES
2009KEW GARDEN 210,000
2011OLYMPIC FOOTBALL1,125,500
2011OLYMPIC WRESTLING1,129,500
2011OLYMPIC JUDO1,161,500
2011OLYMPIC TRIATHLON1,163,500
2018PETER RABBIT1,400,000
2018FLOPSY BUNNY1,400,000
2011OLYMPIC TENNIS1,454,000
2011OLYMPIC GOALBALL1,615,500
2011OLYMPIC SHOOTING1,656,500

The full mintage figures can be found on The Royal Mint’s website: https://www.royalmint.com/currency/uk-currency/mintages/

Fish and chips celebrated on Royal Mint 10p coins

  • Get your hands on a ‘fish and chips’ design 10 pence piece from The Royal Mint in celebration of one of Britain’s favourite dishes
  • 26 new 10 pence piece designs have been unveiled as part of The Great British Coin Hunt, celebrating what makes Britain great

Yesterday (1 June marked National Fish and Chips Day, and to celebrate this Great British dish, The Royal Mint has partnered with a selection* of fish and chip shops across Great Britain and Northern Ireland to release a limited number of special ‘fish and chip’ design 10p coins into tills from this weekend.

Created as part of The Great British Coin Hunt, the ‘Fish and Chips’ 10p coin celebrates one of the many things that makes Britain great. It was voted as the most quintessentially British dish according to the public (52%), beating a Sunday Roast (23%) and Cream Tea (7.4%).

To get your hands on one of these special 10p coins, visitors must simply make a cash purchase in one of a number of selected fish and chip shops across the UK and Northern Ireland. Alternatively, the coins are available to purchase from The Royal Mint in a range of finishes, from uncirculated to silver proof.

Additional coins launched as part of The Great British Coin Hunt include cricket and the Loch Ness monster (below). The 26 coins map out the A-Z of what makes Britain great – from the Angel of the North to a Zebra Crossing.

Accompanying the physical Great British Coin Hunt collection, The Royal Mint has introduced the Great British Coin Hunt app, allowing coin hunters to create a digital collection of the coins they find in their change.

Users can download the app for free from the App Store or Google Play, to scan the coin with their camera, unlocking exclusive content and placing their coin into a digital folder. They can also link the app to their social media to share the treasures they find in their pockets and wallets.

A heat-map within the app shows where different coins are being found around the country and users can even use the app to have a go at designing their own coin.

The entire collection has been rolling out into circulation across the country and will be available at selected Post Offices. A collectors’ folder, and silver proof and uncirculated versions of the 10p coins are available to purchase from The Royal Mint website.

For more information visit www.royalmint/coinhunt

* Fish and chip shops where the special 10p coins can be found from this weekend

Fish and Chips@Weston Grove Unit 1 Weston Grove, Upton Chester Cheshire CH21QL
Frydays of Kendal 6 New Road Kendal Cumbria LA9 4AY
Fylde Fish Bar 117 Fylde Road, Marshside Southport Merseyside PR9 9XP
Golden Carp Chippy Unit 8 Matchborough Centre Redditch Worcestershire B98 0EP
Harlees Corfe 159 Wareham Road Corfe Mullen Dorset BH21 3LB
Harlees Verwood 94 Manor Road, Verwood Dorset BH31 6EB
Harlees Poole Quay Harbourside, Poole Quay Poole Dorset BH15 1HJ
Harlees Amesbury 3 Bence Court, Archers Way, Amesbury, Wiltshire SP4 7FR
Harlees The Parade Swanage 1 The Parade, Swanage Dorset Dorset BH19 1DA
Harlees Salisbury 10 Butcher Row Salisbury Wiltshire SP1 1EP
Harlees Herston 355 High Street, Swanage Dorset BH19 2NP
Penaluna’s Famous Fish & Chips 35a/36 High Street, Hirwaun , RCT Hirwaun Rhondda Cynon Taf CF44 8SW
Quayside Restaurant & Fish Bar West Quay, Gourdon Gourdon Aberdeenshire DD10 0NN
Silverfin Traditional Fish and Chips Unit 8b Greenbank Service Station, Warrenpoint Road Newry County Armagh BT4 2PF
The Esk Cafe 4 English Street Longtown Cumbria CA6 5SD
The Fish Factory 51-53 Brighton Road Worthing Sussex BN11 3EE
The Fish Works 3 The Promenade Largs Ayrshire KA30 8BG

New £1 coin becomes legal tender

The new 12-sided coin is being rolled out across the country to help tackle the rise of counterfeits

New £1 coin becomes legal tender
New £1 coin becomes legal tender

This is the first new £1 coin to be introduced in more than 30 years and will be the most secure of its kind in the world – highlighting the UK’s position as a world leader in innovation.

The new coins are being produced by The Royal Mint, in South Wales, at a rate of up to four million per day. The public can now expect to find them in their change in the coming days and weeks.

Around 1.5 billion new £1 coins are being produced by The Royal Mint and these will be distributed to banks and retailers over the next 6 months. Round £1 coins will be returned to The Royal Mint – some of which will be reused to make the new coin.

Commercial Secretary to the Treasury Baroness Neville-Rolfe said: “This is a giant step forward to help stamp out counterfeit coins and save businesses and the taxpayer millions of pounds every year.

“Today marks the start of the six-month transition period, so I’d urge everyone to make sure they spend, return or donate their old round pounds before 15 October. We have been working hard with businesses over the last three years to help make this changeover as smooth as possible.”

Adam Lawrence, chief executive of Royal Mint, said: “It’s an historic day for UK coinage, and one that The Royal Mint has been working towards, together with businesses and industry, for a number of years. From today, the public will start to encounter for themselves the most innovative and secure coin ever produced by The Royal Mint.

“It’s been designed to be fit for the future, using security features that aim to safeguard our currency, and currencies around the world, for years to come. Staying ahead of sophisticated counterfeiters remains a constant challenge and this coin helps in that battle.”

David Smith, Head of Public Affairs and Research at the British Parking Association, said: “The BPA has been working closely with The Royal Mint and HM Treasury to ensure that its members, who include local authorities, parking operators, and parking machine manufacturers, are ready to accept the new £1 coin wherever possible at launch. Most of the major parking machine manufacturers are positive they will be able to manage the upgrade in a timely manner, having begun upgrades over 12 months ago.

“Evidence suggests a significant number of motorists prefer using cash and they should feel confident that they can pay for parking wherever they choose to park when the new £1 coin is launched.”

The Royal Mint and HM Treasury have been working with businesses for the past three years to help them prepare for the change. Although many will have upgraded their machines to accept the new coin from 28 March, not all machines will accept the new coin from the date of introduction.

The new 12-sided £1 is highly secure and looks very different. New security features on the one pound coin include a hologram-like image that changes from a ‘£’ symbol to the number ‘1’ when the coin is seen from different angles. It also has micro-lettering and milled edges.

It is important that all round £1 coins are returned before 15 October 2017 when they lose their legal tender status. People will still be able to return old coins to their bank after this time.

Businesses, as well as members of the public, wishing to find out more information about the support on offer should visit the official new £1 website