Edward I’s coinage crisis Help the King bring ’s currency problems under control

King Edward I (‘Longshanks’) by Louis Philippe Boitard © National Portrait Gallery, London

This activity… Suggestions for use Supports: How should a medieval monarch KS3 History, Unit 2 respond to a crisis? This activity puts How did medieval pupils in the role of the King’s adviser: to monarchs keep control? help analyse, understand and respond to the currency crisis that Edward I faced in Helps pupils to: Evaluate Edward I’s the late 1270s. Key Stage 3 decisions and effectiveness A card-sort activity and decision-making History as a monarch. game are included. Unit 2 Analyse Edward I’s This activity response to England’s is designed Use this activity to: to follow a coinage crisis, particularly visit to the his motives for tackling the Introduce or brainstorm some of the Coins & Kings problem and his solution. exhibition or aims or qualities a medieval king might the KS3 lesson: want (for example, to appear strong and Explore problems Monarchs and powerful). You may also consider the the Mint of coin clipping and currency instability and monarch’s areas of responsibility such as how England’s Jewish the economy, military etc. community was treated during Edward’s reign. Ask pupils to sort, analyse and prioritise evidence and information about the Develop speaking and crisis facing Edward I in 1278. listening skills and write or argue persuasively Explain aspects of medieval society using causal factors and during Edward I’s reign to help historical vocabulary. contextualise the activities. Requires: PowerPoint projector or Ask pupils to write (or give orally) a interactive whiteboard and report on how serious the situation is. printing out card sort They could advise the King of the three

Coins & Kings Schools resources most important problems. Go further with the Mint... Ask pupils to work in teams in the Monarchs and the Mint: Making the decision-making activity as they nation’s coins at the Tower consider the pros and cons of possible responses to a range of dilemmas faced Introduction resource by Edward I during the coinage crisis. This PowerPoint Pupils learn how closely their advice resource helps you matches against Edward’s actions. tell the story of the (Could be adapted into a game.) Mint at the Tower so your pupils have a Encourage pupils to reflect on what good understanding they’ve learned about Edward I’s reign before they arrive. and his qualities as a monarch, including how he responded when faced with More Key Stage 3 case studies: a threat, and how he established and maintained control. Elizabeth I and the Great Debasement Power Each PowerPoint slide Unit 5 Point provides historical Pupils advise the notes background on how Queen as she tackles Edward I responded to the country’s coinage the crisis. crisis. Kings on Coins: Images from the Mint at the Background and notes Unit 7 Edward I’s coinage crisis Pupils consider how For more background on all the monarchs from Henry scenarios set out in this resource see this VIII to William III have freely available article online: been depicted.

• Mavis Mate, ‘Monetary policies More than money? in England, 1272-1307’, British Numismatic Journal, 41 (8), 1972. Unit 8 How far were coins used as propaganda Tower of London school visits in the aftermath of England’s civil wars? Planning a visit: A teacher’s guide Queen Elizabeth I, unknown artist; King William III, after Sir Peter Lely; King Charles II, unknown artist © National Portrait Gallery, London Gallery, Portrait © National artist King Charles II, unknown Lely; Sir Peter III, after King William artist; Queen Elizabeth I, unknown History at the Tower Find all resources at hrp.org.uk/towerlearning

More good coin links Museum education & learning

Coins & Kings © Historic Royal Palaces and the Royal Mint Museum Schools resources The Mint buys England’s coins When worn Coins are made English Although silver from are old. They and damaged with a hammer merchants are clipping is silver merchants have been coins become and dies. worried about illegal, people giving them badly worn accepted as a Sometimes a receiving bad continue to clip coins in return. and clipped for normal part of coin is struck money for their coins because A certain many years. life, it becomes poorly, and the goods. it is difficult to amount of The last time easier for design is off- prove they are silver is kept new coins were clippers and centre – leaving guilty. as a profit for made was counterfeiters a flat, unmarked the king. This under Henry III to continue edge that is profit is called in 1247. their illegal easy to clip. ‘seigniorage’. work.

Prices are on The lowest Making new Edward I does The barons People working the rise in 1278. value coin is coins for the not have much (influential with money The price of a a penny; but country would money; this is landowners) are suspected pig has nearly some things be expensive. partly because aren’t happy of coin doubled since cost less than To recoin, the he has been at about inflation clipping and 1276. Many this. People Mint will need war to gain land (rising prices). other crimes blame the poor are therefore more resources. from . against coins. state of coins. cutting pennies This includes into halves However, if a Mint officials, and quarters recoinage was goldsmiths and clippers done efficiently, and many in are taking the Mint could the Jewish advantage. make a profit. community.

Edward I’s coinage crisis Coins & Kings KS3 card sort activity Schools resources In 1275, Silver Foreign Many Many people merchants are merchants are Londoners who are saying: allowed Edward reluctant to sell staying away have registered ‘money by to tax wool and silver to the from England debts owed weight is only leather exports, Mint because with their to them have worth half as they were a they are afraid merchandise requested its numerical valuable source of being paid because they only ‘good, value’. of income for with poor are afraid of unclipped the monarch. quality coins. being paid with money’ as bad money. repayment.

In 1275 a 1275 – 1277 – In 1273, In 1275 a statute was June 1277 1278 Edward’s statute forbid passed making ministers Jewish money penalties for 15 people 21 people have imposed a lenders from crimes against were accused been accused huge tax on charging coinage more of monetary of monetary the Jewish interest on severe. offences. offences. community. loans. Money New taxes were lending had (over 2.5 years) (over 1.5 years) added in 1276, been the main 1277 and 1278. occupation of the Jewish community.

Edward I’s coinage crisis Coins & Kings KS3 card sort activity Schools resources