[3] He encountered piracy en route to England, and upon his arrival was immediately awarded £40 compensation for lost clothes and other personal possessions by the Council of State.
[1] Blondeau took up the challenge, and competing against the provost of the moneyers, David Ramage, he produced 300 fine-quality coins to his opponents poorer-quality dozen.
But despite his clear victory, the government did not have the money or political will to fund the large scale minting operation proposed by Blondeau, which would have required an outlay of £1,400 on buildings and equipment.
Henry Slingsby, joint master-worker at the mint had developed a great friendship with Blondeau on his first stay, and was the driving force behind his return in 1661.
[11] In February 1661 Samuel Pepys remarked upon the poor quality of the new hammered coinage, writing in his diary we met with Mr. Slingsby, that was formerly a great friend of Mons.
Blondeau worked closely with Thomas Simon and the Roettiers brothers for several years at the mint, and trained a new generation of moneyers who were dependent on him for his patented machinery.
[17] Blondeau died in March 1672, and to his good friend Henry Slingsby he left the third-part of his income which was still due to him under his 21-year term as mint engineer, as well as five farthing coin-presses he had brought from Poland.