Visited the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Wales today. What a great experience it was! Started with Google leading my wife and me to the security gate where trucks carrying coins and metals pass. Not surprisingly, we didn’t enter there but an employee kindly directed us to the visitor entrance. The staff was very friendly, and the tour guide was cheery and well informed. We elected to have the strike-your-own-coin and the tea for two options (extra cost but well worth it). The part of the tour through the factory was strictly no pictures. There were parts of various equipment types (presses, up-setter, edge letterer, sheet roller, etc.) and dies available to touch. The sheet metal rolls of base metal used for planchet production weigh 3 tons. Then it was through the factory floor separated from the presses only with a wire fence. This part of the factory, the largest part at 50 x 100 meters, is for production of circulating coins. There were many huge presses. We didn’t go through the bullion, proof and commemorative area. I’m guessing it was for security reasons … that’s where the precious metals are. Then it was on to the strike your own coin room. The coin was a 2-pound 2025 issue with the first passenger train (1825) depicted on one side and Charles III on the other. The planchet was a regular planchet (not proof polished) that was already upset and edge-lettered. The guide put the planchet in the 105-ton press and pushed the enable switches. Then I pushed the go switch. The upper die lowered to the planchet slowly. Then there were four quick strokes. I was surprised at how short the strokes were … only a few mm. The result was a PL business strike. The first two pics show it. The it was on to a brief illustrated talk on the history of the mint. That was followed by turning us loose in the museum. There were displays on mint history, the coining process and many rare coins. I took pics of three. The first was a silver penny of Alfred the Great who ruled 871-899. Next is a pattern sovereign of Edward VIII, who ruled for less than a year and abdicated to marry an American divorcee. Very few of his gold coins made it into private hands … value of over $1 million. Last is the 1933 penny. Believed that 7 were minted, but only 6 have been accounted for. Missing coin may still be in a junk pile somewhere. Value over $100,000. Finally there was tea for two, which was amazing. We were shown to the Pistrucci room. Pistrucci was an engraver and most famous for the St. George slaying the dragon design that appears on most sovereigns. It was a small quiet room with 3 tables with fancy chairs, white linen and exquisite china. There were 2 or 3 people per table. The tea was really good but the food surprised us with the amount and quality. It served us for lunch and supper (you can take away what you don’t eat there). See the last pic If you travel to the UK and can make it to the mint … go for it … you won’t be disappointed. Mike
Wow, welcome to Wales , if I had known a fellow CT was here I would have made efforts to meet but I was at Coinex in London on Saturday. I have an office in Talbot Green 5 minutes from the Mint. My late friend Joe Cussen OBE was a mint master who organised the move from London to Llantrisant and I have many stories and memories of him . His wife Sue was their marketing manager until she retired. I'm ashamed to say I have never visited but nor did I visit Cardiff Castle for 40 years until I showed a USA visitor around. Any other CT visitors to Wales and I am your man for a visit! Thank you for sharing @calcol The coin you struck would have appealed to @dwhiz . I'll see if I can get him one in the next year. This month is the 100 year anniversary of the first paying passenger train in the world. On 27th September 1825 fare paying passengers travelled 27 miles from Darlington to Shildon. I used to work in Darlington and there is a fantastic railways museum there. This is the map of the first planned railroad routes that were originally constructed to transport coal. This is a famous image of the train crossing the viaduct. So not only did you visit an immensely historic site and one of the oldest mints in Europe but you struck a coin celebrating huge historic significance @calcol Thank you for sharing.
Way cool! You're very lucky. And this could be a rare coin. There are lots of modern rarities and few seem to notice.
It was only a day trip to the mint; we stayed near Bristol. Then it was on to Oxford and then will be London. However, last year, we spent more than 2 weeks in Wales. Some time in the Caernarfon area. Then rented a narrow boat and cruised the Llangollen Canal for 10 days. And we did go over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct … twice! Amazing experience to look over the side of the boat and see the ground more than 100 ft below. Really loved Wales and Welsh people. Thanks for the info on the railroad. It’s a fascinating story. Mike
I'll bet that narrow boat trip was quite the adventure. I catch youtube videos' of those excursions every now and then and it seems like an adventure I'd like to take someday, if I ever get to the UK. Thanks again for taking us on your trip to the Royal Mint.
Yes, the narrow boat was a great adventure. If you try it, be sure to have at least two able-bodied people on board. You have to work most of the locks yourself. It can be done with time and effort by one person, but is much easier with two. There are good books available on narrow boating, and there is an online simulation program to learn piloting. Mike
