moneyer
(ˈmʌnɪə(r))
Forms: 4 moneur, 4–5 monyour, moneyere, 4–7 monyer, 5 moneyour, monyowre, moneour, moniour, 6–8 monier, 4– moneyer.
[a. OF. mon(n)ier, mon(n)oier:—L. monētārius coiner, minter.]
1. † a. A money-changer. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 14727 Þair ox, þair cu, þair scepe þai sald, And moneurs [Fairf. moneyers] þair mone tald. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 49 Jesus..turnede up so doun þe bordis of monyeris. c 1400 Rom. Rose 6811 But see what gold han usurers, And silver eek in garners, Taylagiers, and these monyours. |
b. A money-dealer, banker, capitalist. ? Obs.
| 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Moneyers... Also Bankers that make it their Trade, to deal in Monies upon Return. 1755 Johnson, Moneyer i. One that deals in money; a banker. 1855 Thackeray Newcomes lxiv, F. B., sir, has a station in the world; F. B. moves among moneyers and City nobs. |
2. One who coins money; a coiner, minter. Now chiefly Hist.
Formerly used as an official designation at the Mint; the ‘Company of Moneyers’ was abolished in 1837.
| 1421–2 Hoccleve Dialogue 174 Ye cursed men, ye false moneyours. 1469 in Archæologia XV. 175 The seid moniours to coyne and to make it. a 1577 Sir T. Smith Commw. Eng. ii. xxi. (1589) 91 To enquire of all heretiques..false moniers, extortioners [etc.]. 1631 Bedwell Descr. Tottenham E 3 b, A House..sometime in the tenure and occupation of Simon Bolton, monyer. 1668 Lond. Gaz. No. 294/4 The Provost and Company of Moneyers. 1670 Pettus Fodinæ Reg. 41 The Master-worker, who receiveth the Silver from the Warden,..and delivereth it to the Moniers. 1697 Evelyn Numism. i. 4 Coin'd by certain Florentine moneyers. 1815 Ann. Reg., Chron. 84 The moneyers' hall and offices also escaped with little injury. 1874 Stubbs Const. Hist. I. x. 314 The general depreciation of the coinage, caused by the dishonesty of the moneyers. |