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ejdecoster's review against another edition
3.0
Should be a 3.5. I enjoyed it, and it was a quick read, but not quite as much of a page-turner as I'd hoped.
sirchutney's review
informative
medium-paced
4.0
For the last half of Newton's adult life, 30 years, he was warden of the Royal Mint as well as Master of the Mint.
Although the post was intended to be a sinecure, Newton took it seriously. By the time of his appointment the currency had been seriously weakened by an increase in clipping and counterfeiting during the Nine Years' War to the extent that it had been decided to recall and replace all hammered silver coinage in circulation. The exercise came close to disaster due to fraud and mismanagement, but was salvaged by Newton's personal intervention. Newton's chemical and mathematical knowledge proved of great use in carrying out this Great Recoinage of 1696, a process that was completed in about two years. Newton was subsequently given the post of Master of the Mint in 1699, a post worth between £1,200 and £1,500 per annum.
Despite counterfeiting being considered high treason, punishable by hanging, drawing and quartering, convicting even the most flagrant criminals could be extremely difficult. Undaunted, Newton conducted more than 100 cross-examinations of witnesses, informers, and suspects between June 1698 and Christmas 1699. He himself gathered much of the evidence he needed to successfully prosecute 28 coiners.
One of Newton's cases as the King's attorney was against William Chaloner. Chaloner's schemes included setting up phony conspiracies of Catholics and then turning in the hapless conspirators whom he had entrapped. Chaloner made himself rich enough to posture as a gentleman. Petitioning Parliament, Chaloner accused the Mint of providing tools to counterfeiters (a charge also made by others). He proposed that he be allowed to inspect the Mint's processes in order to improve them. He petitioned Parliament to adopt his plans for a coinage that could not be counterfeited, while at the same time striking false coins. Newton put Chaloner on trial for counterfeiting and had him sent to Newgate Prison in September 1697. But Chaloner had friends in high places, who helped him secure an acquittal and his release. Newton put him on trial a second time with conclusive evidence. Chaloner was convicted of high treason and hanged, drawn and quartered on 23 March 1699 at Tyburn gallows. Then, he was publicly disemboweled.
Due to his income from the Mint Newton became very wealthy, although he lost a substantial sum in the collapse of the South Sea Bubble. Newton's niece Catherine Conduitt reported that he "lost twenty thousand pounds. Of this, however, he never much liked to hear…" This was a fortune at the time (equivalent to about £3 million in present-day terms), but it is not clear whether it was a monetary loss or an opportunity cost loss.
I read this in conjunction with listening to Newtons Law podcast. I also listened to a dramatised account of his time at the Mint. This was Isaac Newton - Nemesis.
Although the post was intended to be a sinecure, Newton took it seriously. By the time of his appointment the currency had been seriously weakened by an increase in clipping and counterfeiting during the Nine Years' War to the extent that it had been decided to recall and replace all hammered silver coinage in circulation. The exercise came close to disaster due to fraud and mismanagement, but was salvaged by Newton's personal intervention. Newton's chemical and mathematical knowledge proved of great use in carrying out this Great Recoinage of 1696, a process that was completed in about two years. Newton was subsequently given the post of Master of the Mint in 1699, a post worth between £1,200 and £1,500 per annum.
Despite counterfeiting being considered high treason, punishable by hanging, drawing and quartering, convicting even the most flagrant criminals could be extremely difficult. Undaunted, Newton conducted more than 100 cross-examinations of witnesses, informers, and suspects between June 1698 and Christmas 1699. He himself gathered much of the evidence he needed to successfully prosecute 28 coiners.
One of Newton's cases as the King's attorney was against William Chaloner. Chaloner's schemes included setting up phony conspiracies of Catholics and then turning in the hapless conspirators whom he had entrapped. Chaloner made himself rich enough to posture as a gentleman. Petitioning Parliament, Chaloner accused the Mint of providing tools to counterfeiters (a charge also made by others). He proposed that he be allowed to inspect the Mint's processes in order to improve them. He petitioned Parliament to adopt his plans for a coinage that could not be counterfeited, while at the same time striking false coins. Newton put Chaloner on trial for counterfeiting and had him sent to Newgate Prison in September 1697. But Chaloner had friends in high places, who helped him secure an acquittal and his release. Newton put him on trial a second time with conclusive evidence. Chaloner was convicted of high treason and hanged, drawn and quartered on 23 March 1699 at Tyburn gallows. Then, he was publicly disemboweled.
Due to his income from the Mint Newton became very wealthy, although he lost a substantial sum in the collapse of the South Sea Bubble. Newton's niece Catherine Conduitt reported that he "lost twenty thousand pounds. Of this, however, he never much liked to hear…" This was a fortune at the time (equivalent to about £3 million in present-day terms), but it is not clear whether it was a monetary loss or an opportunity cost loss.
I read this in conjunction with listening to Newtons Law podcast. I also listened to a dramatised account of his time at the Mint. This was Isaac Newton - Nemesis.
gobblebook's review against another edition
3.0
Levenson tells the story of Newton's life, with a particular focus on his role as Warden of the Mint, after he reached the zenith of his scientific career. In particular, there was one clever counterfeiter that Newton was determined to catch.
Like a lot of popular history books, this one builds up a story, but then doesn't really deliver on its promises - Levenson uses the idea of Newton acting like Sherlock to catch a criminal genius to rope in his readers, but it turns out that the true story is more mundane. The story is still interesting, and I was especially interested in the history of British currency and Newton's role in it. But Newton's actual detective work in tracking down Chaloner isn't really all that exciting. Nonetheless, this was an informative and interesting book, and I would much rather it be less-than-thrilling than full of lies.
alijc's review against another edition
2.0
In middle age, Newton left Cambridge to take a real, paying job, managing the royal mint, which included the duty to run down and prosecute counterfeiters. The book focused on the legal dual between Newton and one of these, and on the gathering of enough evidence to gain a conviction. But I think what really won the conviction was an earlier stay in Newgate, without coming to trial, that impoverished him, leaving him too poor to bribe the judge. The story wasn't all that interesting. The best bits were in the background, about the nascent monetary policies. England accidentally switched from silver-based currency to gold-based, because their silver coins were over-valued and got shipped overseas to be melted down for their content. And the first stirrings of paper currency and of modern lending were being tried out at this time.
christhedoll's review against another edition
4.0
Newton was a different man at different times of his life. The one who explained gravity, his search for the Philosopher's Stone, a Warden of the royal mint. Pretty cool.
vinayakmalik's review
3.0
Newton didn't really come off as an inventor but rather a discoverer. That showed itself in his time as the master of the mint too
snowcrash's review
3.0
I picked up this book as I had never heard of the story of Newton as the Warden of the Crown’s Mint. That Newton had played detective to counter one of the more notorious counterfeiters of the age in London. While the overall story was somewhat interesting, the better parts are the view into Newton’s life and that of London at the time.
The overall portrayal of Newton is not flattering. It does ring true to his character. He doesn’t really have friends, is difficult to like all the while truly brilliant. There is a lot of first hand source material in the form of letters Newton wrote that allow the reader to get at the core of the man.
The counterfeiter at the center of the story is the general opposite of Newton. While just as brilliant, he has the personality of a cat: likable but willing to bite you just the same. It is here where our intrepid antagonist seeks out ways to take advantage of the flaws in the design of the Crown’s money. We get to learn why ridges are common (can’t clip the coin down on the edge).
The book is a good slice of history, bringing to life the times of Newton & how he worked for a time for the Crown to protect the money of England.
The overall portrayal of Newton is not flattering. It does ring true to his character. He doesn’t really have friends, is difficult to like all the while truly brilliant. There is a lot of first hand source material in the form of letters Newton wrote that allow the reader to get at the core of the man.
The counterfeiter at the center of the story is the general opposite of Newton. While just as brilliant, he has the personality of a cat: likable but willing to bite you just the same. It is here where our intrepid antagonist seeks out ways to take advantage of the flaws in the design of the Crown’s money. We get to learn why ridges are common (can’t clip the coin down on the edge).
The book is a good slice of history, bringing to life the times of Newton & how he worked for a time for the Crown to protect the money of England.
cspiwak's review
3.0
I learned more than I thought I wanted to know about both Newton and counterfeiting. Do you know why there are ridges on the sides of coins? You will after reading this book.