MINT, the place in which the king's money is coined. See COINAGE.
There were anciently mints in almost every county in England; but the only mint at present in the British dominions is that in the Tower of London. The officers of the mint are, 1. The warden of the mint, who is the chief; he oversees the other officers, and receives the bullion. 2. The master worker, who receives bullion from the wardens, causes it to be melted, delivers it to the moneyers, and, when it is coined, receives it again. 3. The comptroller, who is the
overseer of all the inferior officers, and fees that all the money is made to the just assize. 4. The assay master, who weighs the gold and silver, and fees that it is according to the standard. 5. The two auditors who take the accounts. 6. The surveyor of the melting; who, after the assay master has made trial of the bullion, fees that it is cast out, and not altered after it is delivered to the melter. 7. The engraver; who engraves the stamps and dies for the coinage of the money. 8. The clerk of the irons; who fees that the irons are clean and fit to work with. 9. The melter, who melts the bullion before it be coined. 10. The provost of the mint; who provides for and oversees all the moneyers. 11. The blanchers, who anneal and cleanse the money. 12. The moneyers; some of whom forge the money, some share it, some round and mill it, and some stamp and coin it. 13. The porters who keep the gate of the mint.
Mint was also a pretended place of privilege, in Southwark, near the King's Bench, put down by statute. If any persons, within the limits of the mint, shall obstruct any officer in the serving of any writ or process, &c. or assault any person therein, so as he receive any bodily hurt, the offender shall be guilty of felony, and be transported to the plantations, &c. Stat. 9. Geo. I.