Warden of the Mint was a high-ranking position at the Royal Mint in England from 1216 to 1829. The warden was responsible for a variety of minting procedures and acted as the immediate representative of the current monarch inside the mint. The role of warden changed greatly through history with the original task being the receiving, assay and payment for bullion, while later evolving into more of an administerial role.
The office received a yearly emolument of £500. Up until 1685, wardens were given tenure: many of them died while in office. Although technically subordinate to the Master of the Mint whose job was act as a contractor to the crown, many wardens advanced later on to become Master of the Mint with some wardens holding both offices at the same time.
The most illustrious holder of the office of Warden of the Mint was Isaac Newton, who was warranted to this position on the recommendation of his friend, Charles Montagu, Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1696. In 1699 however, Newton undertook the office of Master of the Mint, which was far more lucrative, as well as potentially more technically challenging. After the death in 1829 of the final warden, Sir Walter James, 1st Baronet, the office was abolished having existed for 613 years.
Warden of the Mint
TenureNotes1193Henry de Cornhill1197Odo Parvus and others1202Hugh Oisel1203Wido de Vou1204Hugh Oisel1208Nigel Ruffus and Odo Varvus1216–1222Hubert de Berg1222Hger1224Alexander1229Riehard ReingerLondon and Canterbury1243Otto Fitz William1245William HardelLondon and Canterbury1247Walter de Flemeng1248William Hardel Walter de MoreLondon and Canterbury1251J. Silvestre1252J. de Somercote1258William the King's GoldsmithLondon and Canterbury1266B. de Castell and Richard de Geoffrey1270–1279Bartholomew de Castello1279–1292Gregory de RokesleyShared Role1279–1281Orlando di Poggio1292–1296 William of Wymondham1297–1298 Peter of Leicester1298–1305John Sandalec1319 Augustine le Waleys 1331 Richard de Snowshillc1337 John de Wyndsore1343George Kirkyn, Lotte Nicholyn 1334William of Wakefield1334John of Fleet 1346 George Kirkyn, Lotte Nicholyn1349 John Donati de Castello, Philip John de Neri, Benedict Isbari (killed 1381)1375–1376Richard Lyons Executed on 14 June 1381 during the Peasants' Revolt1376–1377Thomas Hervey1377–1388 John Gurtmonchester 1389–1392Guy Rocliffe 1392–1399 Andrew Newport 1399–1403 Robert Heathcote 1408–1411 David de Nigarellis of Lucca 1411–1439 Henry Somer 1439–1446 John Somerset 1446–1449John Lematon 1449–1468Thomas Montgomery1468–1470John Wode1470–1471John LangstrotherJoint Wardens both
executed Tewkesbury 14711471-1471Sir John Delves 1471John Wode (re-instated)1534–1536 Sir Thomas Pope 1536–1544John Browne1560–1595 Sir Richard Martin Acted as Master of the Mint from 1581-16171599–1609Thomas Knyvet, 1st Baron Knyvet 1609–1621Thomas Knyvet, 1st Baron Knyvet and Edmund Doubleday1621Henry Tweedy1623 Sir Edward Villiers Sir William Parkhurstdied 16261626-1629Sir William Parkhurst1629–1642 Sir William Parkhurst and Sir Anthony St Leger1642–1645 Holland (appointed by Parliament)1645-1660John St John (appointed by Parliament)1660–1666Sir William Parkhurst jointly with Sir Anthony St Leger1666–1680Sir Anthony St Legerdied 16801681Sir Thomas Wharton (died 1684) and son Philip Wharton1685–1686 Sir Philip Lloyd1686–1690Owen Wynne1690 Benjamin Overton1696–1699 Sir Isaac NewtonPromoted to Master of the Mint in 16991700Sir John Stanley, 1st Baronet1708–1714 Craven PeytonAppointed in April 1708 and removed from office in December 17141714 Sir Richard Sandford, 3rd Baronet1718 William Thompson1725 Walter Cary1727 Sir Andrew Fountaine1754 Richard Herbert (died 1754)1754 John Jeffreys1766 William Whitmore1771 Sir Robert Pigot, 2nd Baronet1796–1829Sir Walter James, 1st Baronet (the last Warden; he died in 1829)1829 Office abolished
See also Münzwardein Master of the Mint
References
Bibliography
External links Galileo Project Biography of Newton Royal Mint Biography of Newton Institute of Historical Research – Wardens of the Mint