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KILDER / SOURCES: www.carmarthenjournal.co.uk – www.royalmint.com
The Royal Mint is aiming to cash in – as a tourist destination by opening its steel doors to the public for the first time in 1,100 years.
Visitors will be allowed inside the high-security Royal Mint to see how five billion coins are made each year.
Bosses at the Mint – the oldest manufacturer in Britain – plan to make money by opening a new £7.7m visitors’ centre next year to attract tourists.
Curious visitors will be able to tour the inner workings of the factory where the coins and medals of more than 60 countries are made every year.
Shane Bissett, head of commemorative coin and medals, said: “This is an exciting development in our mission to welcome visitors to a unique behind the scenes experience.
“The new visitor centre will showcase over 1,000 years of coin-making history, and showcase the heritage, craftsmanship and innovation for which The Royal Mint is known all over the world.”
The Royal Mint, Llantrisant. Photo: www.walesonline.co.uk
The giant Royal Mint factory in Llantrisant, near Cardiff, South Wales, will display the rich collections of historical medals and coins.
Armed Ministry of Defence Police oversee security of the 35-acre site which operates round-the-clock to produce 90 million coins a week.
A London mint started operation from around 650AD – although at one time there were about 70 mints making money for different banks.
But from the reign of Henry VIII only the Royal Mint was in operation in London.
It moved to Wales to be opened by the Queen in 1968 in readiness for the introduction of the decimal coinage – and employs more than 900 people.
The visitor centre is expected to open in the spring of 2016 after the Welsh Government has contributed a £2.3m grant towards the cost of the project creating 40 new jobs.
Tourism Minister Edwina Hart said the project had the potential to be an “iconic attraction” as visitors see how the money is made.
KILDER / SOURCES: www.carmarthenjournal.co.uk – www.royalmint.com
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