Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Trial of the Pyx (Amendment) Order 2005 and comes into force on 10th February 2005.

Amendment of the Trial of the Pyx Order 1998

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

(a)in article 3—

(i)after paragraph (1)(a), insert—

“(aa)one coin out of every 150 platinum coins of each type ready for issue;”;

(ii)in the proviso to paragraph (1), after “silver Maundy coins” in both places in which it occurs insert “or platinum coins”;

(iii)in paragraph (2) after “gold coins,” insert “platinum coins,”;

(b)after article 7, insert—

“Trial of platinum coins

7A.  For the purpose of the trial of the platinum coins, the jury shall take out all the coins from the packets of platinum coins, and—

(a)shall weigh the coins in bulk so as to ascertain whether they are on the whole within the permitted variation from the standard weight; and

(b)after weighing the coins, shall group them by type and assay such number of coins as they think fit, comparing them with the standard trial plate of platinum, so as to ascertain whether the metal of the coins of each type is on the whole within the permitted variation from the standard composition.”;

(c)in article 9(6), 10(2)(a), 14(1)(f) and 14(1)(h), for “fineness” substitute “composition”;

(d)in article 14(1) after sub-paragraph (c), insert—

“(cc)whether the platinum coins weighed and the platinum coins assayed are on the whole respectively within the permitted variations from the standard weight and composition;”;

(e)in article 15(2) for “cause the verdict to be published in the London Gazette” substitute “publish the verdict in such manner as the Treasury consider appropriate”;

(f)in Schedule 1 for “take place” substitute “commence”; and

(g)in Schedule 2 after “gold,” wherever occurring, insert “platinum,”.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Trial of the Pyx Order 1998 (the “1998 Order”) (S.I. 1998/1764), so as to provide for the trial of platinum coins issued by the Royal Mint.

Article 2(a) of the Order amends the 1998 Order to require the Deputy Master of the Mint to set aside platinum coins for trial at the trial of the Pyx

Article 2(b) provides for the form that the trial of those coins will take.

Article 2(c) replaces various references to “fineness” in the 1998 Order with references to “composition” so as to reflect section 3 of the Coinage Act 1971. This refers to “fineness” in respect of gold coins and silver Maundy coins, and “composition” in respect of all other coins.

Article 2(d) provides for the findings that the jury are to reach following the trial of platinum coins.

Article 2(e) replaces the Treasury’s obligation to publish the jury’s verdict in the London Gazette, with an obligation to make the verdict publicly available in such manner as the Treasury consider appropriate. It is intended that the verdict will normally be made available on the public website of the Treasury.

Article 2(f) amends the form of warrant appointing the time and place of the trial so as to make clear that the trial commences on the date specified. In practice, the trial of the Pyx normally lasts several weeks.

Article 2(g) amends the Oath administered to the jury in Schedule 2 to the 1998 Order so as to refer to platinum coins.

A regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business.