Have you heard of the Trial of the Pyz which is just happened in the United Kingdom?
It is an ancient ceremony spanning 700 years that makes sure the coins in the UK are of high quality.
The special ceremony involves three groups of participants: The Royal Mint, who make the coins; The Goldsmith’s Company, the experts who check the coins; and the Government.
Each year coins are examined to make sure they meet the correct specifications for circulation.
During the trial, both ‘normal’ coins and collectors’ coins are looked at.
In 2022 there is a special gold coin being looked at. Two of the largest coins ever made by The Royal Mint will appear before the trial. One of them is a 9.5kg ‘Masterwork’ celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s 95th birthday.
The coin bears the inscription ‘my heart and my devotion’ taken from Queen’s speech – first televised on the Christmas broadcast of 1957.
What ‘pyx’ actually means
- The word ‘pyx’ comes from the Latin word ‘pyxis’ or small box.
In this case, it refers to the chests used to transport the coins.
- Coins to be examined are sealed in bags of 50 and locked away in the Pyx boxes for testing at the Trial.
