Government and Private Coin and Currency Mints of the World

Australia

• Perth Mint - The Perth Mint is Australia's oldest operating Mint, established in 1899 to mint gold sovereigns for the British Empire. The Mint is owned by the Western Australian Government and is Australia's specialist precious metals mint, producing collector and investment coins for world markets. With the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra, The Perth Mint is also producing and marketing the official coins and medals of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

• Royal Australian Mint - His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh, officially opened the Royal Australian Mint, Canberra, on Monday 22nd February 1965. The Mint was commissioned to produce Australia's decimal coinage, which was to be introduced into circulation on 14th February 1966. The Royal Australian Mint holds a place in history as the first mint in Australia not to be a branch of the Royal Mint, London.

Austria

• Austrian Mint - For more than 800 years the Austrian Mint and its products have exercised a profound influence upon the culture, the economy and everyday life in Austria. Consequently the Austrian Mint has gathered great experience, forming a reliable basis for our present competence.

Belgium

• Royal Belgian Mint - The Royal Belgian Mint strikes all official coins, also called change. In 1969 the Mint was renamed Royal Belgian Mint, a denomination that suits the institution better given that coinage is a royal prerogative. The coins are distributed by the National Bank of Belgium. As a public institution, the Royal Belgian Mint is, in the administrative sphere, subject to the Administration of the Treasury, which makes that it comes under the Minister of Finance.

Bermuda

• Bermuda Monetary Authority - Since 1970, when it issued special proof sets to commemorate Bermuda's first decimal coins, the Authority has generated additional revenue through its successful numismatic programme. The Authority issued several commemorative coins during the 1970's and early 1980's and, since 1984, at least one commemorative or collectors coin or set, made of gold, silver or palladium, has been issued annually. Generally, the Authority issues one or two coins or coin sets each year to commemorate an anniversary or event of local significance and have a local design theme. The mintage limits of these issues are very low (sometimes as few as 200 coins). The Authority also participates in international commemorative coin programmes arranged and distributed by the British Royal Mint. In 1992, the Authority introduced its first commemorative note to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the New World.

Canada

• Royal Canadian Mint / Monnaie royale canadienne - Canada's national mint, the Royal Canadian Mint, has been producing coins in Ottawa, Canada, since 1908. It can proudly say that it has enjoyed a reputation for uncompromising quality, superior craftsmanship and flawless attention to detail ever since those early days.

Czech

• The Czech Mint - Since 1993 the company has extended its product range by minting of coins and medals. Initial coin minting included only nominal values of 10, 20 and 50 hellers. Since 1994 all nominal values of Czech coins have been minted. The mid-1994 the Mint's activity was extended by minting of commemorative coins. At present the production range is very wide: from orders for The Czech National Bank to a lot of own commercial and commissioned minting according to the client's wishes.

Euro Coins

• Eurocoins.co.uk - Euro Coins from individual countries:

Finland

• Mint of Finland LTD - Mint of Finland is the leading company in its field in Scandinavia and the Baltic region, and it is the most technologically advanced mint in the world. The operations of Mint of Finland Group are divided into production, sales, and marketing of circulation coins, commemorative coins, and coin medals, as well as operations in international markets.

France

• French Mint - Monnaie de Paris has been minting coins since Charlemagne and is the first producer of the euro. The Monnaie de Paris - the French Mint - is an industrial and commercial public service, whose missions are to : make the circulating coins of the French Republic (franc and euro), combat counterfeiting of these coins, produce guarantee stamps for the State (precious metals, customs seals etc.), sell and produce coins for foreign countries within the scope of contracts with these countries and sell and produce metal art products : collector coins, art medals, official decorations, jewellery and bronzes.

Great Britain

• British Royal Mint - The Royal Mint continues as a department of government but although its primary responsibility remains the provision of the United Kingdom coinage, its reputation for the world's finest coins means that more than 100 countries have entrusted the striking of their coinage to the Royal Mint. On 1 April 1975 they were established as a Government Trading Fund, operationally very similar to a government-owned company. For many years over half the sales have gone overseas and, in recognition, the Queen's Award for Export Achievement has been awarded on four occasions. On 1 April 1997 the Royal Mint became an Executive Agency providing it with greater management freedom to develop its business further. Indeed the British Royal Mint has maintained its position as the world's leading exporting Mint.

• Pobjoy Mint - The Pobjoy family have been associated with fine metalwork since the Middle Ages. The Company was recently granted a Coat of Arms in which the Medieval Popinjay is the central motif. The Popinjay was a painted wooden parrot used in archery contests in the 14th century and the name Pobjoy is derived from this. The Latin motto "OCULO CERTO" means "with an unerring eye" and applied equally to the ancestor's prowess as a marksman, as to the Company's reputation for the high quality and precision of its products. Over the past three centuries, the Company has been involved in many diverse fields, but they have always been involved in metal, both base and precious. They are now the largest private mint in Europe.

• Bigbury Mint, Ermington, Nr. Plymouth - The Bigbury Mint is a family business started in 1980 by David and Eileen Holland in their garden workshop at Bigbury in South Devon. In the 20 years since then the Bigbury Mint has gained an enviable national and international reputation for designing and producing medals to an outstanding quality. You can expect personal service and guaranteed satisfaction. Apart from our range of products, the Bigbury Mint offers a complete medal making service for those organizations who would like a tailor made medal to commemorate an event, as an award or to provide an incentive or business promotion.

  DESIGNS - You may already have designs for your medal (there are two sides of course) but if not, we have a talented team who can help you develop them. After every stage we make sure that you are happy with the result before continuing. Our medals are usually struck from solid bronze or silver and finished by patinating (ageing), polishing and finally, given a wipe with a lightly oiled cloth to resist tarnish. Keep them away from damp and your medals will darken a little with age and handling and should acquire a deep rich finish.

Israel

• Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation - The Corporation was established in 1961 by the Israel Government and has been under its full ownership ever since. The main objectives of the Corporation are to commemorate historical and national events, scientific and cultural projects, and other notable achievements of the State of Israel, to pay tribute to important personalities in the history of the State, and to give artistic expression to major occasions in the life of the individual and the family within the framework of Judaism. This is achieved through the distribution of coins and medals to the public both in Israel and in other countries throughout the world.

Japan

• Japanese Mint - The Mint Bureau was established at Osaka by the Meiji government in order to modernize the coinage system. The inaugural ceremony was held on April 4th,1871 and minting was commenced with Western style facilities that were epochmaking in Japan in those days. From then on, with change of the times, the Mint expanded to include, in addition to the main operation of coinage, the production of orders (decorations), medals of honor and metallic art objects; the analysis and testing of metal ores and minerals ; the fineness certification of precious metal wares (hallmarking); etc.

Mexico

• Mexican Mint - The Mexican Mint ("La Casa de Moneda de México") ,was the first in America, established by "Cédula Real (Royal Decree)" in 1535, has served the country without interruptions, reaching a quality recognition world wide level. The institution counts with advanced technology for the manufacturing of: blanks, current mold coins and commemorative medals in fine and industrial metals. Since its foundation, the Mexican Mint has produced pieces that, in recognition to its quality, went beyond frontiers while it was being used as means of trade in the XVII, XVIII and XIX century, in various parts of the world. Since then, our presence as legal coin manufacturers, has been active and permanent.

Netherlands

• Royal Dutch Mint - The Royal Dutch Mint as the successor to The Dutch Mint is probably Holland's oldest existing business. The first coins were minted in Utrecht about a thousand years ago. The present mint has been in operation uninterruptedly until now since 1567. From way back the Royal Dutch Mint took its name from the production of coins to be used in the transfer of money in the Netherlands. This is still an important business activity, although new markets, at home and abroad, incited by privatisation, needed to be tapped. Many new products and services are developed for these markets.

New Zealand

• Reserve Bank of New Zealand - At the most basic level, the Reserve Bank has the duty of ensuring that people can buy and sell goods and services using money, instead of having to barter. Part of this involves providing currency. Cash is physically issued to the public by banks, but they in turn buy their cash from the Reserve Bank. In addition, banks hold accounts with the Reserve Bank that they use to make payments to each other, on behalf of their customers. For that reason the Reserve Bank is often called "the banks' bank".

Norway

• Central Bank of Norway - Norges Bank is a separate legal entity and is owned by the state. The Bank's activities are regulated by Act no.28 of 24 May 1985 relating to Norges Bank and the Monetary System (Norges Bank Act). Norges Bank was established in 1816, two years after the union with Denmark was dissolved, with its head office in Trondheim and regional branches in Oslo, Bergen and Kristiansand. On 1 January 1897 the head office was moved to Oslo.

• Norwegian Mint - The Royal Norwegian Mint (Den Kongelige Mynt) was founded in 1686 as part of the Kongsberg Silverworks to convert the silver extracted from the mines into coins. Before being taken over by Norges Bank (the Central Bank of Norway) in 1962, the Mint had been administered by several different bodies, including the central authorities in Copenhagen and the Ministry of Finance. However, the connection with the Silverworks remained intact until the silver mines were closed down in 1957. The traditional mining symbol - a crossed pick and hammer - is still stamped on all Norwegian coins.

Portugal

• Portugese Mint - The whole production is the exclusive responsibility of the INCM by law. The coins that we use every day are produced by the most modern methods and techniques. The INCM is also responsible for the quality control of these products, which are sometimes inspired in historico-cultural themes.

Singapore

• Welcome to The Singapore Mint - Striking out on one's own is the beginning of the history of modern Singapore. When its fate was decided on 9th August 1965, the island republic had to carve a niche for itself. There was so much to do. One of the first few steps taken was by having a currency system of its own. Singapore then had been using a common currency issued by Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya and British Borneo since 1953. In 1967, Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore (BCCS) was established by the Currency Act of 1967. The Act confers on BCCS the sole right to issue currency notes and coins in Singapore. This is followed by the issue of the first series of circulation coins with various designs representing a dramatic break with previous currency which borne the effigy of the reigning British monarch.The coins were also different in terms of the material used, shapes, sizes and denominations.

South Africa

• South African Mint Company (Pty) Ltd - The first operational Mint on South African soil was established in 1892 by the National Bank, to whom a presidential concession to issue coins was granted. From its humble beginning the company has developed into one of the most modern and progressive producers of circulation coins, numismatic products and medallions in the world. Through the innovative integration of modern technology and sound business practices, the South African Mint has distinguished itself as a stable and progressive organization.

South Korea

• Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation - The Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation was founded on October 1, 1951. Headquartered in Pusan, the southernmost port city of the peninsula and temporary capital with some printing facilities and 275 staff members.

Spain

• Spanish Mint - The Fàbrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre was formed on August 29th, 1893 by merging the Casa de la Moneda and the Stamp Factory into a single company. In 1988 its legal status changed to become a State Company although legally remaining under the rules of Private Law. In its operative framework, the F.N.M.T. is governed under the supervision of the Minister of Finance and on his behalf the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry, its managerial body being composed of a Board of Directors in which some of the most important institutions linked with the Mint«s activities are represented, as follows: National Treasury, Bank of Spain, National Agency for State Draws and Gaming, National Mail and Telegraph Agency, National Tobacco Corporation, etc. The Board of Directors is chaired by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the F.N.M.T

Thailand

• Royal Thai Mint - The year 1860, saw the completion for the construction of the Royal Thai Mint, built inside the Grand Palace, Bangkok, under the Royal Decree of H.M.King Mongkut (Rama IV). First series of coinage of unified design and quality was struck at this mint in addition to The silver bullet coins being produced at that time. In 1901, H.M. King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) ordered a new mint to be built near the Grand Palace to accommodate the expanding operations. This site has now been declared a historical monument by the Fine Arts Department. This mint was able to produce 40 million coins per year plus other related products. By Royal Decree of H.M. King Prajadipok (Rama VII) the activity of the Royal Thai Mint was greatly reduced in 1930, partially due to the world depression at that time and partially due to the introduction of coins minted abroad. The Royal Thai Mint was reestablished in 1933, by Royal Decree, to be under the Crown Property Bureau. This Royal Thai Mint was later tranferred to be under the Treasury Department of the Ministry of Finance. Construction of the present Mint began in 1968 and in 1972 the building of the Royal Thai Mint was completed, officially opened on August 25, 1972.

United States of America

• Bureau of Engraving and Printing - Welcome to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's (BEP) web site. We are the largest producers of security documents in the United States. The BEP produces over 9 billion Federal Reserve notes each year (coins are produced by the United States Mint). These notes are produced at our facilities in Washington, D.C. and Ft. Worth, Texas. In addition, we produce over 20 billion postage stamps. We have been the largest suppler of postage stamps to the U.S. Postal Service for over 100 years. We also produce miscellaneous security documents for other government agencies.

• United States Mint - The primary mission of the U.S. Mint is to produce an adequate volume of circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The other major responsibilities of the Mint include: The annual production of 14-20 billion circulating coins. Distributing U.S. coins to the Federal Reserve banks and branches. Maintaining physical custody and protection of the Nation's $100 billion of U.S. gold and silver assets. Producing proof and uncirculated coins, commemorative coins, and medals for sale to the general public. Manufacturing and selling platinum, gold, and silver bullion coins. Oversight of production facilities in Denver, Philadelphia, San Francisco and West Point, N.Y., and the U.S. Bullion Depository at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Receiving, redeeming, and processing mutilated coins.