Royal Mint of the United Kingdom

The Royal Mint

Type	Government-owned company
Industry	Coin and medal production
Founded	AD 886; 1131 years ago (886)
Headquarters	Llantrisant, Wales
Area served	United Kingdom & British Overseas Territories
Key people	Adam Lawrence (Chief Executive)
Products	Coins Medals Bullion
Revenue	£ 360.5 million (2015)
Operating income	£ 13.1 million (2015)
Net income	£ 1.115 million (2015)
Total assets	£ 58.232 million (2015)
Total equity	£ 62.896 million (2015)
Owner	HM Treasury
Number of employees	900+
Website	www.royalmint.com

The Royal Mint is a government owned mint that produces coins for the United Kingdom. Operating under the name Royal Mint Ltd, the mint is a limited company that is wholly owned by Her Majesty's Treasury and is under an exclusive contract to supply all the nation's coinage. As well as minting circulating coins for use domestically and internationally, the mint also produces planchets, commemorative coins, various types of medals and precious metal bullion. The mint exports to an average of 60 countries a year, making up 70% of its total sales. Formed over 1,100 years ago, the mint was historically part of a series of mints that became centralised to produce coins for the Kingdom of England, all of Great Britain and eventually most of the British Empire. The original London mint from which the Royal Mint takes heritage was established in 886 AD and operated within the Tower of London for approximately 800 years before moving to the now named Royal Mint Court where it remained until the 1960s. As Britain followed the rest of the world in decimalising its currency, the Mint moved from London to a new 38 acres (15 ha) plant in Llantrisant, Wales where it has remained since.

Throughout its history, the mint has been in danger multiple times of being privatised, most recently in 2015 when the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced plans for a £20 billion privatisation drive to raise funds whereby the mint would be sold. Despite this, in recent years, the Mint made a record profit of £11 million in 2016 and expanded and diversified its operations. Today, as well as a minting facility, the site in Wales includes the Royal Mint Museum, and a £9 million visitor centre.