Secret Life of Coins exhibition at the Royal Mint Experience
Our latest temporary exhibition design for the Royal Mint Experience explores the many and varied ways we use coins – other than for spending and saving.
Themes
The display tells stories of some of these uses in objects, images, film and animation. From tossing coins at the start of a football match or carrying them as lucky charms, to use in games and magic tricks, for conveying political messages and warding off disease.
Coin tricks
One theme explores coins in music, and a playlist of extracts from popular songs mentioning coins soundtracks the exhibition. From Brian May's sixpence plectrums to David Suchet's unusual use of a £1 coin some of the examples make the mind boggle!
Animation
Working with Clay interactive we created a lively animated projection for the back wall showing how coins are used to keep the time accurate on Big Ben's clock.
We also created our first kinetic object mount, a swinging pendulum to show how pre-decimal pennies are used to regulate the clock's mechanism.
Objects on display include a full Maundy coin presentation and magic tricks.
Display of coins used as Jewellery
Magic tricks using coins
Swinging pendulum mount
The exhibition accompanies the Royal Mint Museum's new podcast series on the Secret Life of Coins, interview excerpts from the podcast can be heard on the exhibition listening posts.
What we did for the Secret Life of Coins exhibition
- Project management and exhibition planning
- Design of graphics and interactive exhibits (in English and Welsh)
- Art direction
- Installation and display of objects
