Newsletter: November 2025
Welcome to the latest edition of the Royal Mint Museum newsletter. It’s a bumper issue as this month. We’ve celebrated the return of an important portrait and a restored reducing machine. We’ve also been busy sharing our history and expertise far and wide, from welcoming sixth-form engineering students as part of our STEM partnership, to visiting a care home with our reminiscence box project and supporting hands-on medieval workshops at Rhondda Heritage Park. Find out more about how we’re reaching people through learning, conservation and community engagement.
STEM Visit
We welcomed a group of Sixth Form engineering students to the Royal Mint this month as part of our work with the Engineering Education Scheme Wales (EESW).
This project is designed to give students an insight into STEM careers, giving them the chance to work with industry professionals solving real-world engineering problems. Find out more about the project here EESW Project (Sixth Form).
The students are working to design solutions to help with the Royal Mint’s precious metals recycling system. They had a tour of the facility and met with engineers and chemists who oversee the process.
Sovereign Launch
It's not every day we get to work in such a beautiful setting so sharing the story of the Royal Mint beside Nelson's tomb at St Paul's Cathedral was a memorable moment for our team as we supported the launch of the latest sovereign.
Our team presented cases of objects and engaged visitors with the Mint’s rich history and the work of the Museum. It was a great opportunity to connect with people in a remarkable setting.
Rogerstone Roses WI
Our Interpretation and Engagement Manager, Abigail, recently visited the Rogerstone Roses WI group to give a talk on the history of the Royal Mint. It was a lovely evening of shared stories and conversation, and as you can see from the smiles in the photograph, the group gave her a very warm welcome. Our team regularly give talks to both local and national groups, including WI meetings, Probus clubs, Rotary groups and historical societies. All talks are free of charge and accessible to audiences with visual, auditory or learning impairments. To find out more or to book a speaker, contact: museumenquiries@royalmintmuseum.org.uk.
A Portrait Returns to the Mint
When the role of Deputy Master of the Mint was created in 1870, Charles Fremantle became its first holder. Recommended by Benjamin Disraeli, Fremantle revitalised the Mint after years of stagnation. He modernised machinery, rebuilt Tower Hill facilities and raised coinage standards, transforming the Mint into a world-class institution. His introduction of the Annual Report remains a vital resource for numismatic research today.
Upon his retirement in 1894, colleagues commissioned a portrait by renowned artist John Collier, funded by subscription, a testament to the respect Fremantle commanded. For decades, the painting was known only through a black-and-white photograph.
Recently, Fremantle’s great-great-grandson generously offered us the original portrait. It now hangs proudly in the Museum, honouring a leader whose vision shaped Royal Mint history.
Hands-On History at Rhondda Heritage Park
Our team had a fantastic time supporting an archaeology workshop at Rhondda Heritage Park recently. Families stepped back in time with creative activities on a medieval theme.
People began by crafting their own medieval-style purses, before discovering how coins were made at the Royal Mint centuries ago. After trying the process with clay, they explored our replica hand-striking equipment, the same technique used in the Middle Ages, and each took home a pewter coin as a memento.
Events like these are a wonderful way to share the Mint’s rich history and inspire curiosity about Britain’s coinage heritage. A big thank you to Rhondda Heritage Park for inviting us to take part in their event.
Reminiscence Box Visits
At the beginning of November, our Outreach Officer visited Techniquest in Cardiff Bay. Megan shared information about our Borrow a Box project with Techniquest employees Joe and Janet. She in turn heard all about an exciting project that they are currently developing.
It was great to share with them how our Reminiscence Boxes have made an impact on thousands of care homes across the UK, such as Westfields Residential Care Home in Norfolk, who sent us lovely photographs of their residents enjoying a reminiscence session this month.
Megan also visited Trowbridge Oaks Care Home in Trowbridge. She took one of our Reminiscence Boxes to run a session. The residents asked many questions about the work of the Royal Mint. One 102-year-old resident recalled how she visited the Mint as a child when she lived in London and another spoke about his foreign coin collection.
If you are interested in finding out more about our Borrow a Box project, please contact borrowabox@royalmintmuseum.org.uk.
Net Zero Day
Our Collections Assistant, Kelsie, has been supporting the Sustainability Team to deliver Carbon Literacy training across the business and recently became a Carbon Literacy Facilitator. These sessions enable staff to understand how our everyday activities contribute to climate change and empower us to implement changes.
On the 13 November, we participated in Carbon Literacy Action Day to celebrate the progress of the project so far. Staff were encouraged to calculate their carbon footprint, register interest in upcoming training sessions and, of course, enjoy lots of treats!
