IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0096 MS 14
Held at: Senate House Library, University of London
Title: Tables relating to the Royal Mint
Date(s): c1573
Level of description: Collection (fonds)
Extent: 1 volume containing 13 leaves
Name of creator(s): Unknown
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The English Royal Mint was responsible for the making of coins according to exact compositions, weights, dimensions and tolerances, usually determined by law. Minting in England was reorganised by King Edward I to facilitate a general recoinage in 1279. This established a unified system which was run from the Royal Mint in London by the Master and Warden of the Mint.. There remained smaller mints in Canterbury and elsewhere until 1553, when English minting was concentrated into a single establishment in London. For several centuries control of policy relating to the coinage rested soley with the monarch, with Parliament finally gaining control following the Revolution of 1688. The Mint itself worked as an independent body until that date, when it came under the control of the Treasury.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Manuscript volume, 1573, containing documents and tables relating to the Royal Mint, including papers on the prevention of counterfeiting and clipping of coins, and methods of replenishing the circulation of silver coins.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Single item.
Conditions governing access:
Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
Physical characteristics:
Manuscript quarto. Vellum binding.
Finding aids:
Collection level description.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
Originally from the collection of John Fane, 17th Earl of Westmoreland, and sold at Sotheby's on 22 Feb 1887. Bought by Herbert Somerton Foxwell from Ellis and Elvey in 1888.
Immediate source of acquisition:
Part of the Goldsmith's Library of Economic Literature, initially collected by Herbert Somerton Foxwell and presented by the Goldsmith's Company to the University of London in 1903.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
Related material:
University of London manuscripts relating to the Royal Mint and coinage include MSS 14, 21, 51, 62, 72, 100, 102, 108, 151, 152, 154 and 499.
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Archivist's note: Compiled by Sarah Smith as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.
Date(s) of descriptions: Jun 2000