Minting

Minting, coining, or coinage is the act of producing metal currency, such as manufacturing coins using a kind of stamping.

George R. R. Martin has compared the Westerosi coinage to medieval coinage, saying that "Westerosi coinage is probably more complex than actual British medieval coinage", despite some similarities.^[1]

About

The king's coinage is one of the most visible manifestations of royal authority. Gold dragons bear the face of the king in whose time they were minted, as well as his name.^[2]^[3]

White Harbor in the north contains the Old Mint.^[4] The master of coin oversees the minting of coins, exchange rates, and like matters.^[5]^[6]

History

Prior to Aegon's Conquest, each of the Seven Kingdoms had its own coinage minted by its respective kings.^[1]

King Viserys II Targaryen introduced a new royal mint during his reign.^[7]

During the First Blackfyre Rebellion, Daemon I Blackfyre had his own coins minted, depicting his own face on one side, and a three-headed dragon on the other.^[3] During the reign of King Aerys I Targaryen, it was treason to own a Blackfyre gold dragon coin, and twice as treasonous to pass it to another, but someone who acquired one could melt it down to recover the gold.^[3]

The officers of the three royal mints were appointed by Lord Petyr Baelish, the master of coin.^[5]

Recent Events

A Clash of Kings

During the War of the Five Kings, Lord Wyman Manderly suggests his seat of White Harbor as a location where King Robb Stark could mint his own coinage.^[8]

A Storm of Swords

When Daenerys Targaryen arrives in Astapor, the Wise Masters offer her chests full of gold coins, newly minted, stamped with a stepped pyramid on one face and the harpy of Ghis on the other.^[9]

Quotes

And Littlefinger mints the stuff from goldenrod, I vow.^[10]
—Jaime Lannister to a miller

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 So Spake Martin: Blackwood-Bracken Feud and Coinage (August 13, 2003).
↑ The Hedge Knight.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 The Mystery Knight.
↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 15, Davos II.
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 17, Tyrion IV.
↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 62, Jaime VII.
↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II.
↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 16, Bran II.
↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 42, Daenerys IV.
↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 5, Tyrion II.

[Rssm1243{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-1] 1.0 ^1.1 So Spake Martin: Blackwood-Bracken Feud and Coinage (August 13, 2003).

[Rthk{{{2}}}{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-2] The Hedge Knight.

[Rtmk{{{2}}}{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 The Mystery Knight.

[Radwd15{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-4] A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 15, Davos II.

[Racok17{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-5] 5.0 ^5.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 17, Tyrion IV.

[Rasos62{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-6] A Storm of Swords, Chapter 62, Jaime VII.

[Rtwoiaf410{{{4}}}-7] The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys II.

[Racok16{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-8] A Clash of Kings, Chapter 16, Bran II.

[Rasos42{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-9] A Storm of Swords, Chapter 42, Daenerys IV.

[Radwd5{{{3}}}{{{4}}}-10] A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 5, Tyrion II.

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