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).
Forgeries and worn coins were again a problem in the 1680s so William III ordered a ‘Great Recoinage’ of all England’s silver coins.
Years of war with France had drained England’s gold stocks (1797). Foreign currency was “countermarked” or stamp with George III’s portrait to make them legal tender.
Visited: 28 Oct, 2023
Fun fact: Isaac Newton was the Warden of the Mint during the Great Recoinage. His methods and calculations helped the Mint re-coin much quicker than in the past. He then became Master of the Mint (1699-1727).