Newsletter: December 2025

As we approach 2026, we wanted to reflect on another exciting year at the Royal Mint Museum. In 2025 we opened a new exhibition, released the second season of our podcast, ran our fifth Short Story Competition on the theme of Sustainable Futures, and continued our popular Reminiscence Box project. Take a look below at some of our monthly highlights.

January

In the first month of the year, our Collections Manager, Sarah Tyley, returned to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford to retrieve a large number of objects that had been on loan for their exhibition Money Talks: Art, Society & Power. The exhibition explored how currency and art come together in design and culture to promote, or sometimes to challenge, commonly held views. The Museum team had previously taken a trip to visit the exhibition. Over the course of the public display, over 16,000 saw the objects from our collection, which ranged from small coins and artwork, all the way through to a reducing machine weighing a tonne.

February

In February, our Education Manager, Amy Williams, was asked to be one of the judges for the South Wales regional heat of the Lego Leagues competition. This is an international competition run by Lego which involves teams from both Primary and Secondary schools building multifunctional robots to complete a series of challenges and competing against each other in live events. In Wales, the competition is facilitated by STEM Cymru: Engineering Education Scheme Wales, an educational charity with which the Museum has worked on various STEM (Science Technology Engineering Maths) projects over the last few years.

March

In March we launched an Education Box for scout groups. The Coins and the Sea Education Box follows a narrative account of a Tudor sailor called Jimmy who works on a fictional ship The Great Royal. The collection explores money and payment on board ships through objects, such as replica coins, cowrie shells, hardtack and more. The first loan went to the 1st Kilgetty Scout Group and 2nd Pembroke Scout Group based in Pembroke Dock. The group leader Alex said ‘The box was extremely well received by both age groups. The 8 to 10 year olds really enjoyed being able to see the items that the story talked about’. If you would like to loan our Education Box for a Scout group, please contact borrowabox@royalmintmuseum.org.uk.

April

In April, the Royal Mint Experience tour was updated after many months of hard work by our Exhibitions Manager, Abigail Kenvyn. The interactive experience marked an exciting chapter of transformation, offering visitors a glimpse into the pioneering innovations shaping the modern Royal Mint. From extracting precious metals from electronic waste to the creation of luxury jewellery, visitors can explore how the Mint is evolving and developing, whilst staying true to its historic primary purpose. To book tickets, visit the Royal Mint Experience.

May

May marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, the date on which the Allied forces accepted Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender. To honour this milestone, the Royal Mint Experience hosted a special event. Our Information and Research Manager, Chris Barker, delivered an engaging talk on the Royal Mint's operations during the Second World War, highlighting the institution's crucial contributions to the war effort. The Royal Mint Experience staff said ‘We were especially pleased to welcome Chris to speak as part of our celebrations. The content of his talk highlighted the historical significance of the day and reminded us all of the impact of war on the Royal Mint.'

June

In June we announced the winner of our Sustainable Futures Short Story Competition. The winner was selected by our guest judge, BAFTA award-winning TV presenter, Michaela Strachan. She chose a story by 8-year-old Myra Saindane who is our youngest winner so far. Our Education and Learning Manager, Amy Williams, and Museum Assistant, Megan James, delivered Myra’s prizes to her at her school. She was presented with an illustrated print of her story and an annual set of commemorative coins. In addition, she won a £5,000 voucher for her school’s library. You can read more about our short story competition here: https://www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk/learning/short-story-competition/

July

July saw the opening of our temporary exhibition, The Secret Life of Coins, at the Royal Mint Experience. In it we explore the many and varied ways in which we use coins. Not just for spending or saving but for tossing at the start of a football match or carrying as a lucky charm – they are useful in all sorts of hidden ways. But beyond these modest functions, they are also charged with loftier tasks – conveying political messages, warding off disease, even keeping the nation’s most famous clock running on time.

August

We were delighted to welcome Sir David Cannadine, the new Chair of the Royal Mint Museum Board of Trustees, to our site in Llantrisant in August. Sir David is Dodge Professor of History at Princeton University. He is the author of twenty books and editor of numerous volumes. His scholarly interests range across the economic, social, political and cultural history of modern Britain and its Empire and the United States. Sir David spent time with each member of our team, learning more about the unique roles we play in bringing the Museum to life. During his visit, Sir David met with Anne Jessopp, Chief Executive of the Royal Mint and Amanda Brady, Director of People, before enjoying a whistle-stop tour of the exhibitions in the Royal Mint Experience.

September

The Royal Mint Museum podcast returned in September with a brand-new season. This season explores the quirky, surprising and sometimes mysterious roles coins have played throughout history. From buying a coffee to saving in a money box, coins are part of daily life, but they’ve also been used in ways you might never imagine. Season 2 uncovers stories that reveal how coins have influenced culture, technology and even timekeeping. The first episode kicked off at one of Britain’s most iconic landmarks, Big Ben, and set the tone for the rest of the series. You can listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or directly via the Royal Mint Museum website: www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk/podcast/101

October

The Royal Mint Museum reached a major milestone in October. 30,000 coin records were made available through our online collection catalogue! This evolving resource supports researchers, collectors and anyone curious about the history of coinage. In addition to expanding the coin catalogue, the Museum continued to develop its online library. These resources are freely available and support family history research, as well as studies into 19th and 20th century coinage. Explore the collection and library via our website: www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk

November

The Royal Mint Museum received the very generous gift of a portrait of Sir Charles Fremantle. When the modern role of Deputy Master of the Mint was created in 1870, Fremantle became its first holder. Upon his retirement in 1894, colleagues commissioned a portrait by renowned artist John Collier, funded by subscription, a testament to the respect Fremantle commanded. His great-great-grandson very kindly offered us the portrait, and it now hangs proudly in the Museum, honouring a leader whose vision shaped Royal Mint history.

December

At the end of this year, we had one of our reducing machines restored to its former glory. Reducing machines cut coinage or medal tools while copying a larger model. The earliest versions are thought to have been used in France in the late eighteenth century, and they started to be used by the Royal Mint from the second decade of the nineteenth century. The reducing machine that was restored was designed by the engraver and engineer C.J. Hill in 1866. It is unusual in that it operated in the horizon rather than the vertical plane, a type of operation that proved too complicated. It had been on a landing in one of the Mint’s buildings for many years and it was time for it to be given some long-needed care. We asked Hugh from Phoenix Conservation to repair it and we are thrilled with the results.

 

 

Thank you for following and supporting the Museum in 2025. If you would like to be a part of our story in 2026 then reach out and let us know. You can take part in work experience, order a Reminiscence Box, carry out research, book a talk from one of our curators, receive a virtual visit to your school or enter our latest short story competition.

From all of our team we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!