Edward I groat, 1279

In the 1270s King Edward I’s currency was in crisis. England’s coins were old, worn and many had been deliberately damaged. This caused the prices of essentials such as bread and livestock to rise sharply.

The King acted decisively. He moved the Mint inside the secure walls of the Tower and ordered the currency to be completely re-made. He also punished anyone and everyone he thought responsible for the poor state of his coins. These included the goldsmiths, many of his own Mint officials and the Jewish community. The currency was secured but at a huge cost.

Elizabeth I sixpence, 1560-1

Queen Elizabeth I was celebrated for restoring the Tudor currency. Her father, King Henry VIII, had reduced the purity of English silver and gold coins to fund foreign wars and an extravagant lifestyle. His actions caused huge price rises and public unrest as people lost faith in England's coins.

To put things right, Elizabeth I ordered all old coins to be brought to the Mint, melted down and re-made into new, purer coins with her portrait. It was a difficult undertaking that Elizabeth herself described as a 'bitter medicine', but slowly trust was restored.

Charles II Petition Crown, 1663

By the time of Charles II’s restoration to the English throne in 1660 most of Europe’s coins were machine-made. Charles was keen to introduce this new technology. Thomas Simon, who had been Chief Engraver to Oliver Cromwell during the Commonwealth, was eager to be appointed to engrave the King’s new coins. He sent the King one of these beautifully designed coins to prove his engraving skills. But despite Thomas’ efforts, Charles gave the job to Dutchman John Roettiers whose family had been loyal to him during his exile.

Poor Thomas died of the plague just three years later.