The West Kingdom Moneyers had their start in the principality of Cynagua about the year 1988. Prior to that time coin making had been generally an individual effort that gained small notice and little traction.
The person responsible for the sudden leap of interest was Emmerich of Vakkerfjell. Having joined the Society in ’82, like most people he noticed that everyone was doing something, he decided that he too would showcase a lost art or skill. His honest and enthusiastic spirit was influenced by Duke Frederick of Holland in a chance encounter, and follow-up conversations where Flieg gave him a coin from his reign in the East kingdom. His initial work was in the field of casting though. He offered his talents to the Princes of Cynagua in the form of War medals for events like the old Burro Creek War. Though a founder of the Shire of Vakkerfjell, Emmerich relocated north to the Shire of Crystalmist. He managed to get in on the tail end of their formation and organization as a Shire of the West kingdom.
Once established in his new surroundings, he set out to develop coin making from the research he had done. In no time at all there were some positive results. Emmerich’s first court coin presentation was 100 copper struck coins for the then Prince of Cynagua Rolf the Relentless (1985).
By 1988 the first pseudo-guild workshop was done in the Vakkerfjell area, there were six people in attendance. From this small group the Cynaguan Moneyers moved quickly to serve their land. It was just a matter of time before the idea of a Kingdom Guild started to become more fact than fancy.
The Twelfth Night celebration of ’90 in which King Jade was crowned is most memorable. At a revel held shortly after his coronation, Ellis inquired of his majesty why the “Moneyers of his realm were not an official Guild of the West Kingdom”. To which his majesties reply was, “I declare that the Moneyers of our realm are indeed a Guild of the West”. Thus the word of the King being law, they promptly seized the opportunity, though it would be a number of years before their Charter was finalized and sealed.
Since that time they have made substantial strides in art and craft. They have expanded their scope of coverage to include the Coronets of the Mists and Cynagua, and all the Crowns of the West. Granted there have been low times when their numbers have been small and people have occasionally been missed. (For which they deeply apologize) Despite these slips or perhaps more likely because of them, they have grown and flourished in many ways. Each Moneyer has had the opportunity to learn and participate in the Western Moneyers Guild experience. It has been quite some time since they have missed a deadline, order, or Royal. They are after all a volunteer organization, and like any branch of the Society they grow and contract over time.
Today their numbers are strong and their confidence in service to the Kingdom is evident at most events. The Guild invites those willing to learn, to join the Guild, and serve with them a craft with very ancient and noble roots.
The oath of a Moneyer contains these words, “To what ever lands I roam or Lords I serve my craft goes with me".
The Moneyers Guild of the West hopes to serve the western lands for many years to come, and they invite the kingdom to bear witness to their continued endeavors.