The Oxford Mint History
The Oxford Mint (circa 871 AD)
Alfred the Great to Edward the Confessor
The Oxford Mint is one of the oldest known British mints (even pre dating The Royal Mint) and first came into being during the reign of Alfred the Great circa 871 AD.
The Mint was a prolific producer of coinage under Alfred’s patronage and this continued through to Ethelred the Unready and the reign of the monarchs from the House of Wessex up until the reign of Edward the Confessor in 1066.
Charles I
Thereafter, the Mint went into hibernation until it was revived by Charles I in the 17th century during the period of the English Civil wars.
Charles had fled London and made the city of Oxford his seat of power. The King came to Oxford to be within striking distance of London.
The Oxford Mint was revived in January 1642 at New Inn Hall (today the site of St Peters College) and Thomas Bushell and Sir William Pankhurst (former wardens of Shrewsbury and Tower Mints) were appointed as mint masters.
