Trial of the Pyx Trial of the Pyx The Trial of the Pyx () is the procedure in the United Kingdom for ensuring that newly minted coins conform to the required standards. These trials have been held from the twelfth century to the present day, normally once per calendar year. The form of the ceremony has been essentially the same since 1282 AD. These events are trials in the full judicial sense, presided over by a judge with an expert jury of metallurgical assayers. Given modern production methods, it is unlikely that coins would not conform, but this has been a problem in the
Coins of the South African pound François Burgers in 1874 and from 1892 to 1902 coins denominated as 1, 3 (or a tickey), and 6 pence; 1, 2, 2½, and 5 shillings; and ½ and 1 "pond" were issued bearing the likeness of President Paul Kruger. The last of these coins were issued in 1900. In 1902, after Pretoria was occupied by the British, 530 "veldpond" gold coins were minted in Pelgrimsrus. Until the war ended these were produced under exceptionally difficult conditions by use of a handmade press. These coins were minted under the Presidency of Paul Kruger and bear his bust on the reverse