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The Royal Mint at The Tower

Discover the people and stories behind the coins that were minted at the Tower for over 500 years.

A King’s ransom, a jewel thief and Isaac Newton are just some of the colourful characters and surprising stories in the Mint’s long history at the Tower. Click on each to find out more.

A King’s ransom

In 1356 King John II of France was captured. When the first instalment of his whopping ransom was brought to the Mint, much fanfare ensued. But raising his ransom would have a profound effect on the French economy...

Sleeping beauty

William Foxley, a potter at the Mint in the 1540s fell asleep for 14 days and 15 nights. Henry VIII’s doctors could neither diagnose nor rouse him, and Henry himself had a look at the Mint’s curious sleeping beauty...

James Turnbull

A soldier recruited to work at the Mint, James Turnbull stole four bags of guineas early one December morning in 1798. His fate was sealed when he was recognised en route to France...

The jewel thief

Joan Molakyn was the wife of the deputy Master of the Mint in the 1390s. She ran off with another man, taking jewels and other goods from the Tower with her. Suspicion was thrown on her husband too – find out their fate...

Isaac Newton

Physicist and mathematician Isaac Newton was appointed Warden of the Mint in 1696. He relished his new role and began by calculating the most efficient methods for producing coins – as well as tracking down notorious counterfeiters...

These five coins reveal the stories of the people who worked in the Mint at the Tower and the kings and queens who ruled them.

Edward I groat, 1279

In the 1270s England’s coins were in crisis: old, worn and damaged. The King had to act to secure the English currency, but this came at a huge cost...

Elizabeth I sixpence, 1560-1

Elizabeth had to fix the problems her father, Henry VIII created when he debased English silver and gold coins in order to fund foreign wars and an extravagant lifestyle...

William III fake halfcrown, 1690s

In 1696 William III's government ordered a 'Great Recoinage' to address the excess of forgeries in circulation...

Charles II petition crown, 1663

When Charles was restored to the English throne he brought European technology to the Mint. One enterprising engraver made an art form of the new techniques...

George III Spanish eight reales, 1797

As the Bank of England faced a crisis that threatened Britain’s finances, find out about the drastic measures the Mint took to keep Britain’s economy afloat...

Discover the exciting history of the Mint

Located on part of the original site where the Mint was situated for over 500 years, discover the surprising stories and unique history of this little-known area of the Tower. Included in palace admission.