Royal Mint to the Royal Mint opening satellite branches of itself overseas. In Australia, the local Legislative Council petitioned the UK government to establish a branch of the Royal Mint in Sydney (Sydney Mint) after prospector Edward Hargraves discovered gold in Ophir, New South Wales in 1851. The petitioned gain royal assent in 1853 and plans were made by the Deputy Master of the Royal Mint in London to open the Royal Mint's first overseas branch within the colony. The Royal Mint's Superintendent of Coining travelled to Australia to oversee its establishment on Macquarie Street within the southern wing of Sydney Hospital
Royal Mint Exchequer George Osborne announced a £20 billion privatisation drive to raise funds with the "Royal Mint" being up for sale alongside other institutions including the Met Office and Companies House. With its new found financial freedom the Mint begun diversifying their product range through expanding to offer items outside their usual coin-related merchandise. By the early 2000s the Mint was selling different types of jewellery, commemorative plates and figurines, eventually creating its own "Royal Mint Classics" range of collectable goods. This part of the business proved popular in attracting new customers however suffered from poor product development. Example of its