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 Bri-
tish 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 re-
ceives 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 sees that all the
money is made to the just assize. 4. The assay master,
who weighs the gold and silver, and sees 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 bul-
lion, sees that it is cast out, and not altered after it is
delivered to the melter. 7. The engraver; who en-
graves the stamps and dies for the coinage of the mo-
ney. 8. The clerk of the irons; who sees 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.