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TOWER of London. The Mint. | 96 |
TOWER of London. The Mint.
Besides, it is as far from Reason, that a Man of Blood's Principles
should be trusted with the Power and Interest that must go to the
Managing of a Party, as that those who trust him should expect
any good Services from the confessed Author of so many black
Deeds, or Heaven give a Blessing to the Endeavours of such an
impious Creature.]
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Thus much for these Accidents. And not to con-
clude thereof in Summary. This Tower is a Citadel, to defend, or
command the City: A Royal Palace for Assemblies, and Treaties: A
Prison of Estate, for the most dangerous Offences: The only Place
of Coinage for all England at this Time: The Armory for warlike
Provision: The Treasury of the Ornaments of Jewels of the Crown;
And general Conserver of the most Records of the Kings Courts of
Justice at Westminster.
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Use of the Tower to defend the City, &c,
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CHAP. XVIII.
Of the MINT in the Tower .
The several Officers belonging to it .
And of such Monies, both Gold and Silver, as
have been Coined
there .
Divers particular Matters relating to the
Mint .
THE last Matter to be looked upon, whilst
we are within the Walls of this Ancient and Royal Castle, (besides
what hath been said of it already) is a Threefold Office kept here,
highly important to the Kingdom. Namely, That of the Mint, that
of the Ordnance, and that of the Records. We begin with the first.]
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J. S.
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The MINT is the Office and Place where the King's Coin is made, be
it Gold or Silver: Which is at present, and for a long Time hath
been kept in the Tower of London.
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The Office of the Mint.
R. B.
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To the Mint there belong divers Officers; which have not been
always alike: At present they are these:
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Officers of the Mint.
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1. The Warden, who is the Chief; and by his Office, is to receive
the Silver from the Goldsmiths, and to pay them for it; and also is
to oversee all the rest that belong unto this Office. His Fee, or
Salary, is 100l. per Annum.
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Warden.
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2. The Master Worker, who receiveth the Silver from the Warden,
causeth it to be melted; and delivers it to the Moniers, and takes it
from them again when it is made. His Allowance is not any set
Fee, but according to the Pound Weight.
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Master Worker.
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3. The Comptroller, who is to see that the Money be made the just
Assize; to oversee the Officers, and controll them, if the Money be
not as it ought to be. His Fee is a Hundred Marks per Annum.
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Comptroller.
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4. The Master of the Assay, who weigheth the Silver, and seeth
whether it be according to the Standard. His yearly Fee also is a
Hundred Marks.
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Master of the Assay.
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5. The Auditor, who is to take the Accounts, and to make them up,
Auditor-like.
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Auditor.
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6. The Surveyor of the Melting; who is to see the Silver cast out,
and not to be altered after it is delivered to the Melter; which is,
after the Assay-Master hath made Trial of it.
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Surveyor.
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7. The Clerk of the Irons; who seeth that the Irons be clean, and
fit to work with.
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Clerk of the Irons.
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8. The Engraver, which graveth the Stamps for the Money.
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Graver.
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9. The Smiter of Irons, who after they are graven, smiteth them
upon the Money.
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Smiter.
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10. The Melters, that melt the Bullion before it comes to the
Coining.
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Melters.
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11. The Blanchers, who do anneal, boil and cleanse the Money.
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Blanchers.
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12. The Porter, that keeps the Gate of the Mint.
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Porter.
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13. The Provost of the Mint; who is to provide for all the Moniers,
and to oversee them.
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Provost.
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14. The Moniers; who are, some to sheer the Money, some to forge
it; some to beat it broad, some to round it, and some to stamp or
coin it.
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Moniers.
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Their Wages is not by the Day, or Year; but uncertain, according to
the Weight of the Money coined by them.
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Wages.
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Other Officers, that have been in former Times, are said now to be
out of use.
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Besides the several Coins which Mr. Stow hath taken notice of,
these following I shall add.
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Coins.
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The Monies coined in the Reign of K. Edward the VIth, were Pieces
of 5s. of 2s. 6d. of 1s. of 6d. 4d &threequart;. and some smaller Pieces. On
the Pieces of 5s. were stamped upon one side, the King's Effigies
on Horseback, with the Date of the Year under the Horse's Feet;
and between the Rings, EDVARDUS D.G. ANG. ET FRAN.
REX. On the
other side, the Arms of England and France quartered, with this
Motto, POSUI DEUM ADJUTOREM MEUM.
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Monies coined by K. Edw. VI.
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And on the Half-Crowns, Shillings, Sixpences, &c. were stamped
the King's Effigies, with a foreright Face, as was his Father's King
Henry the VIIIth's; and about it, EDVAR. VI. D.G. ANG. ET
FRAN. REX.
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And about the Arms on the other side, the forementioned Motto.
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In the first Year of Queen Mary, certain new Coins were
proclaimed of Gold and Silver; viz. A Sovereign of Gold, 30s.; the
half Sovereign, 15s.; and Angel, 10s.: Of Silver, the Groat, half
Groat, and Penny.
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New Coins under Q. Mary.
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Also Queen Mary coined the same Pieces as her Brother Edward
the VIth had done. And after her Marriage with King Philip, both
their Effigies were stamped on one side of the Piece, facing each
other; and the Arms of England and France quartered, impaled
with the Arms of Spain. About the Effigies was engraven, PHIL.
ET MAR. D.G. R. ET REG. ANG. FRA. And about the Arms on the
other side, their Motto.
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Philip and Mary Coin.
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Queen Elizabeth coined the same Pieces of Money as King Edward
the VIth did, with the same Arms and Motto; but her Effigies was
a half Face, looking to the sinister Hand.
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Q. Elizabeth's Coin.
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King James the First coined also Crowns of 5s. half Crowns of 2s.
6d. Shillings of 12d. Sixpences, &c. Having on the one side
stamped his Effigies, with a dexter Face, and this Inscription about
it, JACOBUS D.G. MAG. BRIT. FRA. ET HIBER. REX. On
the other side,
the Arms of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, quartered, in
this Order: In the first Quarter, the Arms of France and England,
quartered. In the Second Quarter, the Arms of Scotland. In the
Third Quarter, the
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K. James I. his Money.
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