Regalia Design  2D

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – a design fit for the King  

You are invited to take part in a unique opportunity to create an item of regalia for the King’s Assay Master for wearing at formal events in the course of their official duties. Draw inspiration from historical examples of official chains of office or livery collars, or other items, but feel free to bring your own ideas and interpretations into your work.  This significant role has existed for hundreds of years and is deeply rooted in British heritage and tradition. The King’s Assay Master is appointed to serve the reigning monarch and has a specific function of annually testing the metallic components of coinage used in British currency using modern assaying techniques. This quality assurance process leads to one of the oldest formalities and procedures known as “The Trial of the Pyx” 

The Royal Mint is challenging you to design an item of regalia to be worn on formal occasions when representing our head of state, currently King Charles III. The design should reflect the history of The Royal Mint and be manufactured using techniques related to producing coins, such as high-quality striking and fine laser cutting. The design will use primarily recycled silver and could include electroplated elements using gold recovered from e-waste.

The item, scale, shape, depth and whether it is single or double sided is up to you, but remember that this will be an official item of regalia that needs to be sufficiently prominent for all to see when attending and representing the King as his Assay Master. Also consider that the design must be robust and practical to wear, and it needs to project the values, heritage and significance of the office.

Designers are encouraged to reference or include elements of emblems, logos or heraldry that represent the history of The Royal Mint. References to these historic designs are below.

The King’s Assay Master is a role that has existed for hundreds of years. Serving the reigning monarch, the appointee ensures the integrity of Britain’s coinage, which is deeply rooted in heritage and tradition. Traditionally, the term ‘Assay Master’ refers to an officer appointed to test the weight and fineness of precious metals. In today’s role, the King’s Assay Master tests the metallic components within the coinage by using modern assay techniques that are underpinned by traditional craftsmanship. Once that process is complete, the coins are independently verified at one of the oldest quality assurance processes in existence today - the Trial of the Pyx. 

The Goldsmiths’ Company of the City of London, who carries out the Trial of the Pyx, provides an independent jury including the Chancellor of the Exchequer (or a nominated representative), financial leaders, representatives of The Royal Mint, and members of The Goldsmiths’ Company. The King’s Remembrancer and a senior judge, who officiates at the trial in agreement with HM Treasury, swear in the trial. The jury’s purpose is to determine the accuracy and quality of the coins. This verification process establishes whether the coins meet legal standards of weight, diameter and composition.

• Imaginative and creative outcomes, showing innovation, aesthetic appeal and suitability for this high office position.  

• Practical, functional and wearable solutions 

• Suitability of proposed materials, processes and methods of manufacture

• Highest standards of presentation and visual communication, including inspiration source, design development leading to the final design

• Appropriate inclusion of all details as laid out in the brief 

• Designs are to be presented on one side only and mounted on card, foam board or equivalent backing board

• Design submissions – one A2 Board (maximum)

• Designs can be created by hand, digitally using CAD/Illustrator etc, or in combination

• Designs should include a 1.1 scaled drawing

• Summary/description integrated within your design

• Names should only be visible on the back of the entry 

The winning design will be manufactured by The Royal Mint in their jewellery workshop using sustainable precious metals, including gold by The Royal Mint’s Reformation Metals, a pioneering plant located on site in South Wales, which recovers gold from UK-sourced e-waste and X-ray silver, recovered from end-of-life medical X-rays from within the UK. The winning designs are subject to review and amendment by The Royal Mint designers to ensure manufacturability and suitability to represent the business. The finished piece will then be presented to the King’s Assay Master for wearing at all future events as the King's Assay Master. The winners would be invited to visit The Royal Mint and see the winning design being manufactured and to include a behind-the-scenes tour of our world-class manufacturing facilities, Reformations Metals plant and private view of our archival collections within The Royal Mint Museum.