Bank of England governor Mervyn King refused to talk about Britain’s economy as he opened a West Midlands exhibition.

The former Wolverhampton grammar schoolboy would not be drawn on his thoughts about the recession or its impact on the West Midlands when the Express & Star spoke to him as he opened an exhibition about entrepreneur Matthew Boulton at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery’s Gas Hall, last night.

He said Boulton will be portrayed alongside engineer James Watt on a new £50 note in 18 months. The exhibition – Matthew Boulton: Selling what all the world desires – marks the bicentenary of Boulton’s death.

It pays tribute to Boulton who developed modern coinage at Soho Mint, the world’s first steam-powered mint where he secured the contract to strike copper coins on behalf of the British government. On entering the exhibition visitors are greeted with 11 ft tall M and B letters made from mirror Perspex by designer Morag Myerscough.

Exhibits include a treadle lathe dating from 1762, believed to have been made by Boulton and brought to Snow Hill from Soho Manufacturing in 1762. From 1797 it was used to sharpen tools for the Soho Mint.

Boulton’s geographical and sidereal Clocks are in the exhibition. It is the first time they have been exhibited together since 1772.

Boulton and his friend James Watt created the historic Soho Foundry in Smethwick.

The exhibition runs at the Chamberlain Square gallery from today until September 27. Admission is free. Visit www.bmag.org.uk