Henry Slingsby (Master of the Mint) facts for kids

Sir Henry Slingsby (born around 1621 – died around 1688) was an important English official. He held the position of Master of the Mint, which meant he was in charge of making coins for the country.

Who Was Sir Henry Slingsby?

Sir Henry Slingsby was the third son of Sir William Slingsby. His family lived in a place called Kippax, West Yorkshire. When he was young, he went to Exeter College, Oxford for his education.

Working at the Royal Mint

In 1662, Sir Henry Slingsby started working at the Royal Mint. This was the place where all of England's money was made. The Mint was located in the Tower of London. At first, he was the Deputy Master, helping Sir Ralph Freeman. Then, in 1667, he became the sole Master of the Mint. He held this important job until 1680.

Protecting Coins: "Decus et Tutamen"

One of Sir Henry Slingsby's big ideas was to add a special message to the edge of silver coins. This message was "Decus et Tutamen," which means "An Ornament and a Safeguard" in Latin. The idea was to stop people from "clipping" coins. Clipping meant shaving off small bits of metal from the edges of coins. This made the coins lighter and less valuable. By putting words around the edge, it was easier to see if a coin had been clipped.

Later Life and Challenges

Usually, the job of Master of the Mint was for life. However, in 1680, Sir Henry Slingsby was asked to leave his position. This was because there were problems with his financial records. His accounts were not clear, and he faced difficulties. Other people took over his duties for a while. He officially resigned from his role in 1686. Sir Henry Slingsby faced financial troubles later in his life and passed away around 1688.

A Member of the Royal Society

Sir Henry Slingsby was also interested in science and learning. In 1663, he became one of the first members of the Fellow of the Royal Society. This was a very important group of scientists and thinkers in England. However, he was later removed from the Society in 1675. This happened because he did not pay his membership fees.

Family Life

Sir Henry Slingsby was married to Ann Cave. Together, they had two sons. Their sons were named Anthony and Henry.