Soho Mint - A World First!

We are here with a thoroughly modern web site to celebrate the achievements of Matthew Boulton who died two hundred years ago in August 1809.

But a modern website is no anachronism; Matthew Boulton was at the leading edge of technology and innovation in his own time.

So here, as a tribute to a great man, we will look at Matthew Boulton, and the Soho Mint; how Mr Boulton fitted into the great scheme of things, how the Mint was established and worked, and what it produced.

The world's first thoroughly modern money.

● The name of Matthew Boulton is for ever associated with that of his friend and partner James Watt. We are fortunate in that, only a month after Boulton’s death in August 1809, James Watt put pen to paper to write a Memorandum concerning his acquaintanceship with Boulton. Although his memory was, occasionally, a bit unreliable, the result is an authentic view of the Great Man. Click HERE

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Although there have been many changes, the website is still very much a work in progress. More items will be added as they become available, but in the meantime please forgive us our deficiencies! We hope to see you back, soon.

● Most of Soho’s token productions were ‘one-off’ issues. A one-off order which nearly turned into a series was for halfpenny tokens for William Croom of Dundee. Although Soho’s strikings met Mr Croom’s need, an upward price revision to accommodate the increased cost of copper did not, and Soho lost the repeat order to Kempson.To read all about it, click HERE.