I thought that we should make the effort after having been to both the Denver and Philadelphia Mints (and that we live in UK). It opened a few weeks ago and we visited yesterday. We paid the £13 (about $20) entrance fee and were shown a short film, then taken into the mint and shown examples of some of the machines that rim the blanks and add the lettering, some punches. The we moved through to a glass wall onto the shop floor where coins are produced then we punched a 'Last Ever round £1 coin (additional £5 for two charge) and on into a photo opportunity (an extra £7.50 per photo). Out into a large display area, the gift shop and cafe area. Now its not that I didn't enjoy the visit, it was okay but I have no idea how the US can offer better facilities and not charge (even non US visitors) any entrance fee. The entrance fee is fairly hefty for what is about a 2 hour tour. The products in the gift shop are nice but really expensive. I had intended to buy a 1oz gold Queens Beast there - but they don't sell them even though they are produced there. Not entirely successful and probably worth doing if you plan to be in the area. I'd go back to Denver as being the best mint tour we have seen so far though. Sorry for the lack of photos - like other mints, they have this paranoia about cameras!
Thanks for the report! My wife and I will be nearby in a couple weeks and have contemplated going. I think I can convince her to do the Denver mint (I have family in Colorado so we go there often), but the Royal Mint has been a harder sell...
If you intend to go to Denver, make sure you try to get tickets as far in the future as possible and have lots of flexibility. Tickets go fast!
None that I know of. There is a Bank museum in Bank of England in Threadneedle Street, London and the Royal Mint by Cardiff in Wales.
How about their equivalent to our Bureau of Engraving and Printing? I know there is a Royal Bank of Scotland and they use different paper notes than England.
They certainly do - the polymer printed notes produced by Bank of Scotland. As far as I know they do not allow visits, nor does the United Kingdom note printing facility in Loughton, Essex.
Well, I've never been to Denver but at the Philly Mint they wall you away from all the fun, 2 stories up. There is value in getting onto the shop floor on its' own. That, and perhaps the Royal Mint is not engaged in beating its' customers for profit as brutally as the US Mint is, and needs to generate some income with the tour.
There are exhibits over the two floors in Philly so found that quite interesting. Trust me, the Royal Mint has had longer to learn the art of beating money out of customers than the US Mint. An uncirculated 50p stuck to a bit of card is £10 and 1/2oz silver coin stuck to a similar bit of card is £20. They must be making big money in that gift shop
De La Rue, the company that operates the printing works in both Gateshead and Loughton, does not allow "walk in" visitors. Maybe they offer tours for registered groups, but by and large such banknote printing facilities are high security locations ... Thanks for your report about the trip to Llantrisant! So Shaun welcomes the visitors? As for the admission fee, £13 is certainly not cheap. Then again, various museums around the world charge quite a bit, for special exhibitions and/or for general admission. You apparently had a good time, and that's what counts. Christian
Great, ya they'll milk you for every dime but look on the bright side, with the money they make from you I'm sure they'll make a few multi thousand dollar screw up coins not to mention the double stikes or the 1983 copper pennies, someone was probably watching his table. No kidding I wish I could have seen and maby learned what you might have.
