Isaac Newton was also involved in "fighting counterfeiters." Although the post was intended to be a sinecure, Newton took it seriously. By the time of his appo

Isaac Newton was also involved in "fighting counterfeiters." 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. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Later_life_of_Isaac_Newton https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Later_life_of_Isaac_Newton