On Monday I went to The Royal Mint Experience with my friends.

We learnt that the coins are made out of various recycled metals, from things like old computer components like motherboards.

Each coin has a slightly different recipe of metals. Once processed, the prepared metal is rolled up like a big wheel. Each one can weigh 3 tonnes and extend to half a mile, if unrolled.

Another machine punches circles out of the unrolled metal to make the blank coins.

Dies are used to print the art work onto each side if the coin.

The coins have slightly raised rims to protect the art work and to make sure they stack nicely.

The factory moved from London to South Wales in 1968, ready for decimalisation, which happened in 1971. It is believed that the site in Llantrisant was chosen, as James Cullaham, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1964-1967, was born in Cardiff and wanted to help the area replace the employment of rapidly declining mining industry.

In the museum at the end of the tour, they had sample Olympic medals which we could lift up. They were very heavy. There was also a real gold bar which was securely locked down, but you could put your arm through a hole to see if you could lift it. I couldn’t even lift on end of the bar!

The Royal Mint also makes a range of jewellery called 886. It’s called this as 886 was the year that the first coin was ever made.