Edward I moved the mint inside the Tower’s walls and had the currency completely remade (1270s) because criminals were “clipping “ off the edges of silver coins. Henry VIII (early 1500s) had reduced the purity of English coins to fund wars and his lavish lifestyle. Subsequently, Elizabeth I collected old coins, melted them down, and made new coins, thus increasing the value of English currency (1560).
Tower of London (Mint)
Tower of London (Mint)
Tower of London (Mint)
Edward I moved the mint inside the Tower’s walls and had the currency completely remade (1270s) because criminals were “clipping “ off the edges of silver coins. Henry VIII (early 1500s) had reduced the purity of English coins to fund wars and his lavish lifestyle. Subsequently, Elizabeth I collected old coins, melted them down, and made new coins, thus increasing the value of English currency (1560).