Queries about the uses to which surplus funds in the Mint's hands may be put
In The Act for encouraging of Coynage o(18 Car. II. ch. 5) it is enacted that no monies le{illeg}viable & payable by that Act shall be applied or converted to any use or uses whatsoever, other then to the defraying the charge or expence of the Mint or Mints & of the assaying melting down & coyning wast & coynage of Gold & Silver, and the encouragement of the bringing in of Gold & Silver into the said Mint or Mints there to be coyned into the current coyns of this kingdome. Nor shall any of the said monies be issued out of ye Excheqr but by Order or Warrant of the Lord Treasurer or& under Treasurer or Commrs of the Treasury for the time being, & mentioning that they are for the use and service aforesaid to be kept to the Master and Worker or Masters & Workers of her Majts Mint & mentioning that they are for the use & service aforesaid to be kept in hier Majts Officer of Receipt in the said Mint or Mints under ye keys of ye Warden Master & Comptroller & issued out thence from time to time according to the manner & course of the said Mint. or Mints
And it is further enacted that there shall not be issued out of the Excheqr of the said monies in any one year for the fees & salaries of the Oficers of the Mint & towards the providing maintaining & repairing of the AHouses Offices & buildings & other necessaries for assaying melting down & coyning above the summ of three thousand pounds Sterling money & the overplus of the said monies so kept or to be kept as aforesaid shall be employed for & towards the expence wast & charge of assaying melting down & coynage & buying in of gold & silver to coyn & not otherwise.
Quere 1. May any of the monies exceeding the {illeg}three thousand pounds aforesaid be imployed by the Master & Worker of the Mint for byuying of gold & silver t{illeg}o make Coronation Medals or for any other use then defraying the expence wast & charge of assaying melting down & coynage of monies & buying in of gold & silver to coyn into monies.
Quere 2. May the new monies arising from the coynage of such Gold or silver as is bought with the other monies aforesaid be imployed for buying Gold or& Silver to make Coronation Medals or for any other use then the said other monies exceeding the 3000li aforesaid could be imployed.
Qu. 2 May the proper{illeg}ty of the said monies be altered by buying in gold & silver therewith & coyning the sameto coyn into , so as that thenew moniesy new moneys arising from such coynagearising from such coynage may be imployed for bying {sic} Gold & silver forto make Coronation Medals or for any other use to wch the first moneys were not applicable.then wch the
Source
MINT 19/1/326, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UKc. 1702?, c. 499 words.