Monument record 1160/39 - Northampton Mint

There were six known moneyers striking coins in Northampton at least from the time of Eadwig in the mid 10th-century. The first documentary evidence of Northampton mint occurs in the later 12th century. The mint was closed in 1209, but briefly reopened for three years (1247-1250) to help with the massive Long Cross recoinage. The location of the mint is unknown.

{1} In the short reign of Eadwig (955-959) there were six known moneyers striking coins in Northampton. The first written mention of Northampton mint occurs in the Pipe Rolls for 1160-1161. mentions of 'monyers' in Northampton occur in 1168-9 and in 1181-82 Thomas the son of Bernard paid '60 shillings for the mint for this year and 30 shillings for the same mint for half a year'. However, by 1182-3 Thomas rendered 30 shillings again and Alan de Coventry paid 2 shillings 'for the old mint in the Borough of Northampton'.
Early documentary sources are rare, but the coins that were struck there date from the reign of Eadwig up to 1250. Two years after the accession of Henry III the mint was closed and the land 'alienated by grant'. However, the mint was one of fourteen re-opened for three years (between 1247-1250) to augment the remaining six in coping with the massive Long Cross re-coinage. No evidence for its location within the town.

{2} SP7560. Saxon mint at Northampton generally sited to Northampton. The Saxon mint struck coins from the reign of Eadwig to that of Harold II.

{3} A coin of Eadgar (959-975) found at Sulgrave in 1976 by the moneyer Waerin. The circumstance of its finding, only 16 miles from Northampton, supports an attribution of Waerin's earlier Hampton coins to the mint of Northampton.

<1> 1985, Northamptonshire Local History News, 65/19-27 (Newsletter). SNN19919.

<2> Hill, D, 1981, An atlas of Anglo-Saxon England, p. 132 (Book). SNN113652.

<3> Blackburn, M A S, 1979, Waerin: a Northampton moneyer for Eadgar, p. 217-9 (Article). SNN116792.

Record last edited

Mar 31 2025 11:51AM