Citation and commencement

1. This Order may be cited as the Trial of the Pyx (Amendment) Order 2012 and comes into force on 8th November 2012.

Amendment of the Trial of the Pyx Order 1998

2.-(1) The Trial of the Pyx Order 1998(2) is amended as follows.

(2) In article 2(1), after the definition of "the Goldsmiths' Company" (but before the "and" at the end of it) insert-

""kilogram coins" means coins of gold or silver with a standard weight of one kilogram or more;".

(3) In article 3(1)-

(a)at the beginning, for "The Deputy Master of the Mint" substitute "Subject to paragraph (1A), the Deputy Master of the Mint";

(b)for sub-paragraph (e) substitute-

"(e)one coin out of every 5,000 cupro-nickel coins ready for issue;"; and

(c)omit the proviso at the end of the paragraph.

(4) After article 3(1) insert-

"(1A) The Deputy Master of the Mint shall ensure that-

(a)of the coins ready for issue other than kilogram coins, not fewer than ten coins of each denomination, and

(b)of the kilogram coins ready for issue, not fewer than three coins of each denomination,

shall be selected at random and set apart, irrespective of the number of such coins that are ready for issue.".

(5) In article 7-

(a)in the heading, at the end insert "other than kilogram coins";

(b)after "gold coins of each type" insert "other than kilogram coins";

(c)for "trial of the gold coins" substitute "trial of such gold coins"; and

(d)in paragraph (b) omit "on the whole".

(6) In article 9-

(a)in the heading, at the end insert "or kilogram coins";

(b)renumber paragraph (1) as "(1A)" and in that paragraph, for "the silver coins", substitute "silver coins";

(c)insert before paragraph (1A)-

"(1) In this article "silver coins" means silver coins other than Maundy coins or kilogram coins.";

(d)in paragraph (1)(a) omit "such";

(e)omit the words "other than Maundy coins" wherever they appear; and

(f)in paragraph (2)(a)(i) for the words from "weighing not less than 980 grams nor" to the end substitute "based on the standard weight, weighing no more than one kilogram each, provided that each lot that weighs less than one kilogram shall weigh as close as possible to one kilogram;".

(7) After article 9 insert-

"Trial of kilogram coins

9A. For the purpose of the trial of kilogram coins, the jury shall take out all the coins from the packets of kilogram coins, and-

(a)shall weigh each of the coins separately so as to ascertain whether each coin is within the permitted variation from the standard weight; and

(b)after weighing the coins, shall assay separately such number of the coins as they think fit, in the case of-

(i)i)gold kilogram coins, comparing them with the standard trial plate of gold, so as to ascertain whether the metal of each coin is within the permitted variation from the standard fineness; and

(ii)silver kilogram coins, comparing them with the standard trial plate of silver, so as to ascertain whether the metal of each coin is within the permitted variation from the standard composition.".

(8) In article 10(2) omit paragraph (b) and the word "and" preceding it.

(9) In articles 11(2)(a)(i) and 12(2)(a)(i) for the words from "weighing not less than 980 grams nor" to the end substitute "based on the standard weight, weighing no more than one kilogram each, provided that each lot that weighs less than one kilogram shall weigh as close as possible to one kilogram;".

(10) In article 14(1)-

(a)in sub-paragraph (f) after "Maundy coins" insert "or kilogram coins";

(b)after sub-paragraph (f), insert-

"(fa)whether each of the silver kilogram coins separately weighed and assayed is within the permitted variations from the standard weight and composition;"; and

(c)in sub-paragraph (h) omit the words from "and, in relation to the gold-plating," to the end.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Trial of the Pyx Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1764), so as to provide for the trial of kilogram coins issued by the Royal Mint and to make minor amendments to the conduct of the trial in respect of certain coins. The Coinage (Measurement) Act 2011 (c.17) made a minor amendment to the Coinage Act 1971 (c.24) so as to facilitate the production of coins of one kilogram or more.

Article 2(2) provides a definition of kilogram coins.

Article 2(3) and (4) makes provision for the Deputy Master of the Mint to set aside kilogram coins for trial at the trial of the Pyx.

Article 2(5) and (6) exclude kilogram coins from the trials of gold coins and silver coins.

Article 2(7) provides for the form that the trial of kilogram coins will take.

Article 2(10) provides for the findings that the jury are to reach following the trial of silver kilogram coins and gold-plated silver coins.

Minor amendments are made by article 2(3) to the provision governing the number of cupro-nickel coins to be set apart for trial, by article 2(5) to the provision for assaying gold ingots and by article 2(6), (8) and (9) to the conduct of the trial in respect of certain silver, cupro-nickel, nickel-brass coins and gold-plated silver coins.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.