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Money can be a difficult thing for a lot of people, acting as a significant source of stress around the world, and that’s no different in Game Of Thrones. In order for a long-reigning king to ensure that their land is prosperous, they’re going to want to appoint a brilliant Master of Coin. With all the problems that exist in the Game Of Thrones series, the last thing anyone needs is to be stressing over money.
Without a strong Master of Coin, the Seven Kingdoms may be left in a spiral, seeing to it that even a strong ruler’s reign is one marred with hate. It isn’t always highlighted throughout the Game Of Thrones series, but economic prosperity is key, especially when fighting massive wars on just about every front. Many fans may not know exactly what a Master of Coin is responsible for or why they’re so important, but they won’t have to wonder much longer.
What Is The Master Of Coin?
|
Game Of Thrones |
|
|---|---|
|
Created By: |
David Benioff, D. B. Weiss |
|
Seasons: |
8 |
|
Episodes: |
73 |
|
Runtime: |
50–82 minutes |
|
Release: |
April 17, 2011 – May 19, 2019 |
|
Network: |
HBO |
As Petyr Baelish so eloquently puts it in A Game Of Thrones:
“The master of coin finds the money. The king and the Hand spend it.”
Acting as one of the key members of the King’s Small Council, the Master of Coin is one of the most important figures in all of Westeros, especially if the king they serve is doomed to a short reign. It is easy to say that the Master of Coin is simply in charge of the realm funds, but that would be simplifying the position a bit too much. They are directly in charge of the royal treasury, keeping track of the health of the kingdom from an economic standpoint. Having an intimate knowledge of business in Westeros and the ability to adequately advise the king, the Master of Coin is capable of empowering or utterly collapsing a kingdom depending on their motivations.
A large part of the Master of Coin’s job is to meet the demands of their king, no matter how tricky that may be. It is incredibly easy for anyone to wish for more money, but when a king or even a powerful queen commands that very thing, the pressure is on for the Master of Coin. Often, rulers tend to be overtaken by the power they are afforded, resulting in years of debauchery instead of responsible ruling, thus making the Master of Coin’s job much less stressful. This is even more true when the Hand of the King is aligned or at the very least friendly with the Master of Coin. A skilled Master of Coin will use their knowledge and contacts in order to raise funds for the kingdom whenever it is required.
How Does Someone Become The Master Of Coin?
As is the case with most positions in Game Of Thrones, the most effective way to get into any role is to either excel at what you do or know the right people. When looking at Petyr Baelish’s (Littlefinger) path to power as the Master of Coin, his road was long, but he seemingly made all the right choices. Choosing to increase his own power and notoriety in the realm through his business ventures, Littlefinger showed off his business prowess and skill with manipulating money as he rose through the hierarchy of Westeros. During his years of dedication to increasing his standing through business, Littlefinger made sure to continue making smart allies, as well as maintaining old ones that could be of use.
Littlefinger was so skilled that he was eventually granted important customs roles by the Hand of the King Jon Arryn of House Arryn, something that allowed him to show off just how effective he could be at increasing revenue. Thanks to Littlefinger’s massive accomplishments, he managed to quickly move into the role of Master of Coin on the King’s Small Council. A little bit of business prowess and smart decisions with people took Littlefinger from a rather unremarkable beginning to becoming one of the most powerful men in the realm. Outside of pure skill, many are simply appointed because they are family, and even as punishment.
Tyrion Lannister highlights all of this perfectly when speaking about Petyr Baelish’s role as master of coin in A Clash Of Kings:
“Within three years of his coming to court, he was master of coin and a member of the small council, and today the crown’s revenues were ten times what they had been under his beleaguered predecessor… though the crown’s debts had grown vast as well.”
Who Were Some Notable Masters Of Coin?
Notable Masters Of Coin:
- Petyr Baelish
- Tyrion Lannister
- Daemon Targaryen
- Bronn of the Blackwater
Despite its importance, the position of Master of Coin is one that is a bit lesser known. The most complete information on those who’ve held the role is easily Littlefinger thanks to his prominence in the Game Of Thrones series. Outside of that schemer, Tyrion Lannister, Bronn, and even Daemon Targaryen are all Masters of Coin that fans of Game Of Thrones and House Of The Dragon will recognize with ease. Interestingly, while many key roles throughout Game Of Thrones tend to feature many of the same powerful houses, the Master of Coin role has been assumed by many lesser-known houses.
Outside of his recognition due to Matt Smith’s stellar performance in House Of The Dragon, Daemon Targaryen was mostly an unremarkable Master of Coin, only holding the position for a handful of months before being replaced. Realistically, he’s more notable thanks to how infamous he is as a character. Bronn, a fan favorite from the Game Of Thrones series ends the show as the Master of Coin under Bran the Broken, though there is no indication of how well he suited the role.
Tyrion is another notable character who held the role of Master of Coin for a short period of time despite some poor decision-making. His father Tywin basically put him in the position as a punishment, with Tyrion having no idea how to fully handle the role. Finally, as has already been highlighted heavily, Littlefinger is probably the most infamous Master of Coin thanks to all of his accomplishments. He led the kingdom for many years, always being able to meet whatever demands he was faced with.
Game Of Thrones is available to stream now on MAX.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones, based on the Song of Ice and Fire book series by George R.R. Martin, tells the sprawling story of warring families in Westeros. This includes the Starks, the Lannisters, the Baratheons, and the Targaryens. Along with human conflicts, Westeros is also threatened by the re-emergence of dragons, and an undead enemy from beyond the Wall.
