72 
ARC HI EPISCOPAL COINS. 
Henry VII., or below the shield on the reverse (90). Christopher 
Bainbridge issued coins with X and B at the sides of the shield, 
and with a martlet as mint mark. He was created Cardinal in 
1511, after which his coins bear two keys under the shield and a 
Cardinal’s hat, the earlier issues are without his initials, and the 
later ones bear X. B. 
Cardinal Wolsey. 1514 — 1531. 
On May 21st, 1523, Cardinal Wolsey in an Indenture 1 with 
William Wright, alderman of York, appointed him master and 
worker of his monies of silver in his mint at York. Wright was to 
receive the Cardinal’s irons, and to have as many smiths, work¬ 
men, and labourers as necessary, and to coin half groats and 
halfpennies, and he was to pay the Cardinal yearly £5 for the 
privilege of holding the office of mint master. William Wright, 
the mint master, was Sheriff of York in 1511, and Lord Mayor in 
1518 and 1535. 
Cardinal Wolsey put on his coins his initials T. W. at the sides 
of the shield in addition to the two keys and the Cardinal’s hat 
below the shield. Later the keys disappear from the coins (91). 
Wolsey issued groats, half groats, pennies, and halfpennies. The 
issue of groats got Wolsey into trouble, for it formed one of the 
charges against him on his impeachment in Parliament, namely, 
that of “ his pompous and presumptuous mind, he had enterprised 
to join and imprint the Cardinal’s hat under the King’s arms on 
the King’s coin of groats made at the city of York, which like deed 
had not been seen to have been done by any subject within the 
realm before this time.” 
Edward Lee. 1531—1544. 
Edward Lee was the last of the Archbishops of York to exercise 
the right of coining. He issued half groats, pennies, and half¬ 
pennies, which bear a key on the obverse, with the head of Henr}^ 
VIII. and E and L at the sides of the shield on the reverse. 
1 Caesar Caine, “Archiepiscopal Coins of York,” p. 59. 
