"The Trial of the Pyx is an annual court case that puts the Royal Mint on trial to validate the quality of the coins it has produced over the past year. Why? Because the security of the coins of the realm is a serious matter, and although these days the coin in your pocket won't generally contain actual gold or silver, it is still required to meet exacting standards for the cupronickel used to make them."
"These coins are bagged up and put into small boxes called Pyx. The boxes used to be stored in Westminster Abbey (in the Pyx chamber) and then taken to the Treasury for the trial to commence. In 1871, the trial moved to Goldsmiths' Hall in the City of London, because the Assay Office is there, and that's where the coins were taken for melting down anyway."
The Trial of the Pyx is an annual legal procedure that examines sample coins produced by the Royal Mint to verify metal composition and quality. One coin from each batch is set aside throughout the year, bagged and placed into small boxes called Pyx. Historically the boxes were stored in Westminster Abbey and taken to the Treasury for trial. The trial moved in 1871 to Goldsmiths' Hall because the Assay Office is there. Coins are now stored by the Royal Mint and taken to Goldsmiths' for testing. The King's Remembrancer presides in formal court dress and a verdict is announced months later.
Read at ianVisits
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]