Come along and hear about a fascinating aspect of Edinburgh’s history. Maister cunyeours were masters of the king’s or queen’s mint who received and gave out bullion in accordance with the various acts of the Scottish Parliament. They paid the fees and salaries of the workmen and kept accounts of the issues of coinage. Along with the warden, the maister cunzeour superintended the minting of coins and held one of the keys of the chest in which the money was kept. The Achesons played their part in the troublesome history of the sixteenth century. They had a ‘guid conceit of themselves’ as shown by an inscription on one of their houses.

As you are master of my tongue I am master of my ears – you can stop me speaking but I don’t have to listen to you!

Speaker

Sandra Marwick

Sandra Marwick holds degrees in History and in Museum and Gallery Studies and she is a former member of staff of Edinburgh Museums and Galleries. Sandra currently researches and writes about umquhile (deceased or former) Edinburgh residents.