Melbourne Mint
Encyclopedia
The Melbourne Mint, in Melbourne, Australia, was a branch
of the British Royal Mint
. Until 1916 it minted only gold sovereigns, and all Australian coins between 1927 and 1967. It is now the home of the Marriage Registry and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, and has been leased to the private sector since 2001.
The former Royal Mint is located on the corner of William and Latrobe Streets (280-318 William Street and 387-429 Latrobe Street) and is of architectural significance as one of the most impressive 19th century government buildings in Victoria, and one of few Australian buildings in the true Renaissance revival style, and a virtual copy of the Raphaels Palazzo Vidoni-Caffarelli in Rome
(1515).
The mint was built between 1869 and 1872 to the designs of architect J.J Clark
whose other notable works included the Old Treasury Building, Melbourne
.
Branch mint
-United States:The original and main Mint of the United States Mint, has been located in Philadelphia , since 1793. Its current facility, Philadelphia's fourth, opened in 1969.U.S...
of the British Royal Mint
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. The Mint originated over 1,100 years ago, but since 2009 it operates as Royal Mint Ltd, a company which has an exclusive contract with HM Treasury to supply all coinage for the UK...
. Until 1916 it minted only gold sovereigns, and all Australian coins between 1927 and 1967. It is now the home of the Marriage Registry and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, and has been leased to the private sector since 2001.
The former Royal Mint is located on the corner of William and Latrobe Streets (280-318 William Street and 387-429 Latrobe Street) and is of architectural significance as one of the most impressive 19th century government buildings in Victoria, and one of few Australian buildings in the true Renaissance revival style, and a virtual copy of the Raphaels Palazzo Vidoni-Caffarelli in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
(1515).
The mint was built between 1869 and 1872 to the designs of architect J.J Clark
John James Clark
John James Clark , an Australian architect, was born in Liverpool, England. Clark’s 30 years in public service, in combination with 33 in private practice, produced some of Australia’s most notable public buildings, as well as at least one prominent building in New Zealand.-Biography:John James...
whose other notable works included the Old Treasury Building, Melbourne
Old Treasury Building, Melbourne
The Old Treasury Building on Spring Street in Melbourne, was once home to the Treasury Department of the Government of Victoria, but is now a museum of Melbourne history, known as the Old Treasury Building.-History:...
.
External links
- Photo: Melbourne Mint, from the State Library of Victoria
- Brief history and photographs of the Melbourne Mint, from the Australian Architecture Discussion Forum.