Monument record 9051 - Saxon Mint at Chester

A mint had been established at Chester by 890, during the reign of Alfred the Great (3), followed shortly in 893 by Viking raids, also demonstrating that the place was growing in economic and strategic importance, being on the route between the Scandanavian kingdoms of Dublin and York (4). Several different moneyers were in operation at this time, and during the reign of Aethelstan (924 – 939) it’s estimated that there were twenty moneyers in operation, in comparison to not more than ten at London and seven at Winchester, perhaps making Chester the most important mint in England at that time (1). It has been suggested that this extraordinary output is at least partially explained by the proximity to the silver mines of north Wales and by a series of successful campaigns in that region (1). Based on the names and other details on the coinage, Chester's moneyers appear to have been especially cosmopolitan and to have included not only significant groups of Scandinavians and Celts, but also Germans or Franks. The Scandinavian influence remained fairly constant throughout the later Saxon period. At some time around 970, Edgar reformed the production of coinage, securing absolute uniformity of type throughout the country (1). At that time, seventeen moneyers were in operation in the town.

<1> Dolley, R H M, 1955, The Mint of Chester, Dolley R H M 1955 42/1-20 (Article in Journal). SCH5736.

<2> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/260-261 Thacker A 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<3> Hughes, Thomas, 1864, On Some Anglo-Saxon Coins Discovered in the Foundations of St John's Church, Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5519.

<4> Chester Archaeology, Archaeology in the Park: Grosvenor Park, Chester 2007 (Newsletter). SCH6469.