John Lonyson
John Lonyson | |
|---|---|
 Lonyson in 1565 | |
| Master of the Mint | |
| In office 1571–1582 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Stanley |
| Succeeded by | Richard Martin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1525 |
| Died | 1582 |
| Resting place | St Vedast Foster Lane, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Goldsmith |
John Lonyson or Lonison (1525–1582) was an English
John Lonyson was of Flemish descent, one of a family of goldsmiths established In
Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in May 1564.[2]
Following the death of
Warden of the Royal Mint, and John Lonyson as Master-Worker of the Mint. As Master, Lonyson was to accept silver and gold bullion from merchants and goldsmiths and return it in the form of coin, of such denominations, weight, and fineness as were specified in a document called an indenture. In these transactions, a specified portion of the bullion was retained by the Master and Warden for their fees and to cover operating costs.[1][3]
As is recorded in
Nicholas Bacon (the Lord Keeper), William Cecil, Lord Burghley (the Lord Treasurer), Sir Christopher Hatton, the Earls of Leicester and Sussex, Sir Francis Walsingham, and Sir Walter Mildmay. The wording of Lonyson's indenture was imprecise, and he avoided conviction. Ultimately the Council required Lonyson to coin only on short-term commissions that quite specifically established the Master's portion of precious metals at a level higher than the intention of the original indenture but lower than Lonyson's practice of 1572–76. Lonyson accepted the new oversight and was cleared of intentional wrongdoing in his prior practice. He continued to serve in the Royal Mint until his death.[1][4][5]
Lonyson died in 1582 and was buried at St Vedast Foster Lane, London, where a monument to him dated 21 May 1583 is recorded in Stow's Survey.[6][7] Warden Richard Martin himself succeeded Lonyson as Master of the Mint, thus recombining both roles in a single individual.[1]
Notes
- ^ a b c d Challis (1978), pp. 134–135
- ^ a b Cooper (2012), pp. 94–95
- ^ Challis (1978), p. 322
- ^ Martin 1892, pp. 24–25
- ^ Strype, John (1720). "TOWER of London. The Mint". John Stowe's Survey of London. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- ^ Forrer (1907), p. 460
- ^ Strype, John (1720). "Faringdon Ward within. [St. Fosters.]". John Stowe's Survey of London. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
References
- Challis, C. E. (1978). The Tudor coinage. Manchester Eng. New York: Manchester University Press Barnes & Noble Books. ISBN 9780064910385.
- ISBN 9780300162790.
- Craig, John (1953). The Mint: A History of the London Mint from A.D. 287 to 1948. ASIN B0000CIHG7.
- Forrer, Leonard (1907). Biographical Dictionary of Medallists: I-Maz. Spink & Son.
- Martin, John B. (1892). A Grasshopper in Lombard Street. Ayer Publishing, reprinted 1969. ISBN 0-8337-2266-2. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- Strype, John (1720). John Stowe's Survey of London. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2012.