Sep 24, 20261 min read

Isaac Newton hunted counterfeiters through London's taverns and prisons

In 1696, Isaac Newton left Cambridge to inspect England's coins and ended up tracking down counterfeiter William Chaloner through prisons and back rooms.

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Isaac Newton hunted counterfeiters through London's taverns and prisons
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Isaac Newton hunted counterfeiters through London's taverns and prisons. In 1696, he came down from Cambridge to inspect England's coins. Soon, he was visiting prisons and back rooms, writing down informers' stories by hand.

The name that kept appearing

One name kept coming up, William Chaloner. The quiet professor built his case piece by piece.

The counterfeiter's end

In 1699, Chaloner was hanged for counterfeiting. Newton's hunt had worked.

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