The establishment of the Royal Mint is considered to have taken place in 886AD, when Alfred the Great recaptured London from the Danelaw and began issuing silver pennies bearing his portrait. Centralised control of Britain’s mints was placed in the hands of the mint found in the Tower of London in 1279, and by the reign of Henry VIII (1509-47), little coin production took place outside London. The Royal Mint remained in the Tower of London until 1812, when moved to purpose-built premises on Tower Hill – thus ending a chapter of British history that lasted well over 500 years.