The Trial of the Pyx: Testing our coins

For centuries the Goldsmiths’ Company has performed the crucial task of independently checking coins produced by the Royal Mint to ensure they are of the right quality and composition set by law. This week I had the honour to join the jury in the so-called Trial of the Pyx – supported by experts of the London Assay office.

Although today more and more people pay by electronic means there are still around 29 billion coins in circulation in the UK. It’s essential that consumers can trust the quality of these billions of coins.

Each year new coins are checked in a procedure known as the Trial of the Pyx, which takes its name from the box that holds the sample coins set aside for testing.

The Trial is presided over by a senior judge, the Queen’s Remembrancer, and carried out by a jury of members of the Goldsmiths’ Company in the City of London.

As jury it’s our task to count, weigh and measure the sample coins to make sure they are within the tolerances allowed by law.

The coins are then tested by experts from the Goldsmiths’ Company to determine the quality of the metal they are made of, a process known as assaying.

The Goldsmiths’ Company plays an active part in this centuries old process providing expertise and a focus on excellence to ensure all standards are met.

The Goldsmithsdo this not only for coins produced by the Royal Mint, but extend this guarantee to the work of their Assay Office hallmarking precious metals, providing valuations and laboratory services.

For over 700 years Goldsmiths’ members have been actively involved in #protectingconsumers through the Trial by ensuring the nation’s coinage is of the right quality and composition. For as long as we place value in coins, the Trial will remain relevant in modern life.No block selected.