Rothschild Archive — Evidentiary Index: Mining, Metals & Bullion
Compiled from rothschildarchive.org, 6 June 2026
STEP 1 — Collections, Series, and Research Guides
Overview
The collections page at https://www.rothschildarchive.org/collections states:
“The Archive is administered by The Rothschild Archive Trust. The Archive collections reflect the activities of the Rothschild businesses together with the family’s private interests. We welcome researchers from all over the globe.” “The records of the London firm, N M Rothschild & Sons, and papers of the French bank of M M de Rothschild Frères form the core of the Archive collections, reflecting the activities of the other Rothschild banks through many series of correspondence and accounts that circulated between them.” “Business records of de Rothschild Frères, Paris are held on deposit by the Archives Nationales du Monde du Travail, Roubaix, France.” “Access to the collections: Business records up to the date of 1945 are generally available for public consultation. Other private family papers are also held by the Archive, but access restrictions may apply.”
Online Catalogue access: Available only to registered members of the Rothschild Research Forum. “An online Guide to the Collections of the Rothschild Archive is available to registered members of the Rothschild Research Forum.” (https://www.rothschildarchive.org/collections/catalogue/)
Research Guides Listed at https://www.rothschildarchive.org/collections/research_guides/
Research Guide: Business records of N M Rothschild & Sons, London
“The business records of the London firm, N M Rothschild & Sons, form the core of the archive collection held by The Rothschild Archive, London. The collection includes papers from the main historical departments of the London business, for example papers concerning the Rothschild Partnership, the early Manchester business of Nathan Mayer Rothschild c.1800-1881, early business in London, c.1809-c.1820, Accounts Current, the ‘American’ Department, the Bookkeepers Department, the Bullion Department, the Royal Mint Refinery, the Cashiers Department, the Correspondence Department, the Estates Department, Loans business, New Court, the Partners’ Room, Private clients, the Secretary’s Department, the Staff Department and other sundry departments.”
STEP 2 — Research Guides Covering Mining, Metals, and Related Topics
None of the 12 public research guides specifically covers Rio Tinto, Almáden, nitrates, De Beers, South African gold mining, Penarroya, or Le Nickel. The closest publicly-accessible content is the NM Rothschild & Sons guide (naming Bullion Department and Royal Mint Refinery as distinct series), the Royal Mint Refinery business narrative page, and the Archivist’s Choice articles below.
The Business Section: The Royal Mint Refinery
- URL: https://www.rothschildarchive.org/business/other_business/royal_mint_refinery
- Date range: 1852–1968
“The Rothschilds’ interests in refining can be traced to 1827, when James de Rothschild (1792-1868) began operating his own refinery in Paris. The English Rothschilds interests in gold were further consolidated in 1852 when they acquired the lease of the Royal Mint Refinery.”
APPENDIX A — Archivist’s Choice Articles: Mining, Metals & Bullion
1. Royal Mint Refinery lease and parliamentary papers, 1852
- URL: https://www.rothschildarchive.org/collections/archivists_choice/treasure_of_the_month_february_2015
- Reference code: RAL 000/2056
- Opening text (verbatim): “For over 200 years, the trading, refining and mining of gold were important activities for the Rothschild family’s businesses. Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777-1836) first began to deal in bullion in 1809. In 1815, the Rothschild brothers famously supplied gold to the Duke of Wellington to enable the payment of the troops in Belgium in the days leading up to the Battle of Waterloo. In late 1825, the Rothschilds averted a financial crisis by supplying a large volume of gold to the Bank of England.”
2. Wooden box of precious metal samples, c.1860
- URL: https://www.rothschildarchive.org/collections/archivists_choice/january_2020_wooden_box_of_precious_metal_samples_c1860
- Opening text (verbatim): “This year we will be replacing some of the items in the vitrine with new displays. One of the items recently rediscovered in the collections is a small wooden box, about 25 cm square, containing samples of precious metals. Its origins are unclear, but it may date from the days of the London bank’s early involvement with the mining and refining of Australian and Californian gold from the 1850s.”
3. Flag from the Gold Fixing Room, New Court, 2004
- URL: https://www.rothschildarchive.org/collections/archivists_choice/september_2019_flag_from_the_gold_fixing_room_new_court_2004
- Date context: 2004 (year the gold fixing operation left New Court)
4. Acquisition of the Witkowitz Ironworks, 1842
- URL: https://www.rothschildarchive.org/collections/archivists_choice/august_2016_acquisition_of_the_witkowitz_ironworks_1842
- Reference code: RAL ‘Moscow Papers’ 637/1/253
- Opening text (verbatim): “On 22nd August 1842, Letters of the Court Chancellery concerning permission of the Austrian Emperor for S M Rothschild to acquire mine workings, mine shafts and other interests near Witkowitz and on estates in Moravia were issued to Salomon von Rothschild.”
5. Telegraphic code books (South American business), 1909-1938
6. Mr Stephany’s business trip to Spain, 1925
7. Letters of Introduction, Valparaíso, Chile, 1848
APPENDIX B — Complete Archivist’s Choice Article Index (verbatim titles)
Full list as published at https://www.rothschildarchive.org/collections/archivists_choice/ on 6 June 2026. Mining/metals-relevant titles marked with *.
- Rothschilds, Books and Literacy
- Celebrating 200 years of railways
- Bringing Béatrice de Rothschild’s legacy to life at Villa Ephrussi
- Telegram from Albert Einstein
- Living for art: Charlotte de Rothschild and the Trachel and Rothschild collections in Nice
- Nathaniel von Rothschild and the First Vienna Football Club, 1894
- The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla: the Royal Family, Rothschild gifts and Fabergé
- 200 years of Rothschild business with Portugal and the ‘Wedding Cake’ at Waddesdon Manor
- Banker and philanthropist: A portrait of Anthony de Rothschild
- Passport belonging to Charlotte, Baroness Lionel de Rothschild, 1859
- ‘Jubilee’ June: Photograph of 5, Hamilton Place decorated for the Diamond Jubilee, 1897
- Mail coach advertising bills, c.1820-1835
- Stockbroker’s Token, 1824
- *Royal Mint Refinery lease and parliamentary papers, 1852 (RAL 000/2056)
- *Acquisition of the Witkowitz Ironworks, 1842 (RAL ‘Moscow Papers’ 637/1/253)
- *Wooden box of precious metal samples, c.1860
- *Flag from the Gold Fixing Room, New Court, 2004
- *Telegraphic code books (South American business), 1909-1938
- *Mr Stephany’s business trip to Spain, 1925
- *Letters of Introduction, Valparaíso, Chile, 1848
- *Chinese Sycees, 1901 and 1903
- *Plan of the Rothschild saltworks, Venice, c.1860
- The Irish 3% Loan, 1847
- Disinfected mail: letter from F C Gass
- Correspondence with Adelina Patti, 1888-1895
- The Smithson legacy: letter from Levi Woodbury to Nathan Rothschild, 1836
- *Edward The VII ‘Coronation’ Silver and gold coin set, 1902
- Rothschild, Books and Literacy
APPENDIX C — Known Reference Codes Disclosed on the Public Website
| Reference Code | Item | Source URL |
|---|---|---|
| RAL 000/2056 | Parliamentary papers relating to N M Rothschild & Sons leasing of the Royal Mint Refinery | https://www.rothschildarchive.org/collections/archivists_choice/treasure_of_the_month_february_2015 |
| RAL ‘Moscow Papers’ 637/1/253 | Papers concerning the acquisition of the Witkowitz Ironworks, 1842 | https://www.rothschildarchive.org/collections/archivists_choice/august_2016_acquisition_of_the_witkowitz_ironworks_1842 |
| 132 AQ (2006 52 M) | Rothschild Frères, Banque — held at Archives Nationales du Monde du Travail, Roubaix | https://www.rothschildarchive.org/collections/research_guides/business_collections_france |
| 1997 19 1 to 108 | Rothschild (sociétés absorbées et filiales, dont la Compagnie de chemin de fer du Nord) — held at Archives Nationales du Monde du Travail, Roubaix | https://www.rothschildarchive.org/collections/research_guides/business_collections_france |
All other reference codes for the RAL London collection (NM Rothschild & Sons series) are not shown on public-facing pages. The detailed online catalogue requires Rothschild Research Forum membership.
NOTES ON ACCESS
- Online catalogue is restricted to registered Rothschild Research Forum members. Apply at: https://www.rothschildarchive.org/research_forum/
- Physical access to business records up to 1945 is “generally available for public consultation” at New Court, London.
- French records (de Rothschild Frères) are at Archives Nationales du Monde du Travail, Roubaix — require dual application to both RAL London and the Roubaix archive.
- Reference code format for London records appears to be RAL [series number] (e.g., RAL 000/2056) and RAL ‘[named group]’ [number] (e.g., RAL ‘Moscow Papers’ 637/1/253).
*Compiled by automated web research, 6 June 2026. All quoted text is verbatim from rothschildarchive.org. No content has been paraphrased or inferred.*