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The Archbishop's Mint. A movie demonstrating the operation of the mint of the archbishop in Nidaros.
Simple, but effective tools were used when coining in medieval times.
First metal plates were melted to make the correct alloy.
Then plates were flattened to the correct thickness, before cutting or punching out planchets.
The planchet was placed between an upper and a lower coin die,
and the impression was stamped by hitting the top die with a hammer.
Because coining most likely was a periodic activity,
the work was combined with other professions such as trade or goldsmithing.
The archbishop in Nidaros had the king's permission to mint.
At the archaeological excavations after the fire in 1983, the remains of a mint were uncovered.
The mint had a floor covered with burnt, glazed clay tiles.
This floor remains untouched in the present museum at the Archbishop's Palace.
There are traces in the floor after three work benches for coining.
The mint also had storage rooms for charcoal and a fireplace used to melt metal for the coins.
It is likely that the king and the archbishop cooperated about minting and there are many indications that
such activity existed in Trondheim ever since Harald Hardruler's time around year 1050.
The mint in the Archbishop's Palace probably produced coins for the last three archbishops:
Gaute Ivarsson, Erik Walkendorf and Olav Engelbrektsson.
It was the king who decided the coin's weight, alloy, appearance and similar properties.
Deviation from this could be perceived as counterfeiting, which was harshly dealt with.
For example, counterfeiters could be punished by being lowered into boiling water,
thrown into melted metal or by hanging.
Many coins were fitted with marks that make it logical to presume them to be ecclesiastical.
However, religious marks on coins are fairly common both for clerical and royal minting.
Christian symbols could mean that the sovereign was Christian.
But the coin could also be rendered harmless through such symbols.
In medieval mentality, coins were a means of seduction to sin,
invented by the devil and therefore satan's tool.
Therefore they needed to be neutralized as best as possible through the introduction of holy symbols,
for instance crosses, croziers, saint's images or inscriptions.
[Created by...] Experts in Teamwork, Medieval Nidaros in virtual reality, NTNU 2008
This work would not have been possible without the extensive support from
Øystein Ekroll and Kristin Bjørlykke from the Restoration Workshop of Nidaros Cathedral
Supervisors: Torbjørn Hallgren, Jo Skjermo
Video editing: Even Brenden
Voice introduction: Asle Fossum. Recorded at Radio Revolt.
Translation: David Svånå