Pobjoy and Man going their separate ways

[SandyGuyUK]

Interesting news release on the Pobjoy Mint website:

Special Announcement from The Mint Master

19/07/16

Pobjoy Mint Ltd would like to announce that as from March 24th 2017 they will no longer represent the Isle of Man as the official minter of Isle of Man legal tender products.

Recently, the Isle of Man has announced a reduction in the number of themes that can be produced in any year.

This will mean that many Isle of Man coins will no longer be made and we urge our customers to order existing Isle of Man products while stock last.

We will continue to produce high-quality coins from our six other issuing authorities and look forward to showing our customers the new and exciting products we have for the balance of 2016 and into 2017.

Pobjoy Mint Ltd has had a long and fruitful relationship with the Isle of Man that has lasted for over 40 years; we wish them well for the future.

Taya Pobjoy

Managing Director

I wonder where the IoM will go next?  The Royal Mint?  Mind you - if they really are reducing the number of commemorative themes, maybe the Royal Mint will not be interested given their recent behaviour over the last few years where they are determined to turn the UK into the next IoM with the amount of tat that's been issued....

[eurocoin]

Very interesting and I had not expected this  You are very good at finding these interesting things, Hertfordian!

[eurocoin]

I just called the IoM Treasury. Before I even got to speak to someone, they wanted to know quite a bit about me. The currency manager was very well considering his words. He informed me that a new mint has already been chosen but he was not yet able to tell me what mint is going to produce the coins. I did get the impression however that this won't be The Royal Mint.

Furthermore there have been no conversations about the introduction of the fifth effigy by Jody Clark. Also there have been no conversations about the possibility that the Isle of Man is going to introduce new designs on its circulating coins. It is unknown whether Pobjoy Mint will mint the 2017 dated circulating coins of the Isle of Man.

According to the currency manager, the reduction of themes to be featured on coins was only during the tender process.

[Bimat]

Manx coins to be made in London from next year

15:49 Friday 05 August 2016

For more than 40 years Manx coins have been made in Tadworth, Surrey.

But from next year they will be made in London.

The Manx government has selected Tower Mint after a tender process to produce circulating and commemorative coins for the Isle of Man Treasury.

The 10-year contract takes effect from April 2017.

It means that the Isle of Man will be ending its long relationship with Pobjoy Mint, which has been producing Manx coins for more than 40 years.

The government hasn't said whether this will save the taxpayer any money.

Treasury member David Anderson MLC said: 'In line with best practice for public sector procurement we have a clear policy and process for regularly reviewing contracts across the Isle of Man Government and subjecting them to competitive tender.

'In the case of the coins contract the tender process was commenced in February this year by Treasury's investments and banking section working in conjunction with Government's Procurement Services, and a number of companies took part.

'Treasury was impressed with the quality of the samples of circulating and commemorative coins provided in the tender process.

'Tower was particularly impressive in its marketing capability and production of a rolling five year plan for the sale and distribution of quality commemorative coin issues on a global basis. There are also exciting plans for new designs of circulating coins in 2017.'

Mr Anderson added: 'Pobjoy have done good work for the Isle of Man over the past four decades so we will be sorry to part company with them at the end of March next year.'

Source: IoM Today

[eurocoin]

Blegh. Tower Mint is really the creme de la crap amongst the European mints.

[Pabitra]

There are also exciting plans for new designs of circulating coins in 2017.'

So a new circulation series for IoM.

[Bimat]

Will we also see a new portrait of the queen?

Aditya

[eurocoin]

Will we also see a new portrait of the queen?

Aditya

Good question, yes most likely both the obverse and reverse will get a new design. Tower Mint has always minted coins with its own effigies of HM Queen Elizabeth.

[Alan71]

If they do, I hope they don't do a Gibraltar and go backwards to a Maklouf portrait that depicts a much younger Queen.

[eurocoin]

There were 5 interested parties for the tender which resulted in 3 bids. Bids were submitted by Pobjoy Mint, Mint of Norway (Samlerhuset) and Tower Mint. The scoring spread for the bids was 74%-98%.

[Figleaf]

Everything is relative. The most decent of those three is Pobjoy. I guess that means they don't stand a chance.

Peter

[Oklahoman]

Eurocoin, that was a great line.  I have not laughed so hard in some time.