Drafts of a response to John Perry's application to coin copper (Mint 19/2/306) and a recommendation of Charles Brattell for assay master (Mint 19/1/93)

<432r>

In obedience to yor Lops Orders of Reference concerning upon the Petitions of several persons to succeed Mr Dan. Brattel deceased, in the Officer of Assamaster {sic} to her Majts Mint in the Tower: We humbly represent that by the long experience wch we have had ofwe beleive {sic} Mr Charles Brattell the deceased we repre accountbeleive himsaid Daniel theto be well qualified for that postfor that Place & that we judge him the fittest person among the Pe{illeg}titioners of that for that post to succeed therein

All wch

In obedience to yor Lordps Order of Reference upon the Petition    of Iohn Pery & others for supplying the Mint with either blanks or plates of fine copper to be coined into half pence &or farthings, we I humbly represent that whenever there shall be a coinage of copper money whether it be by Coin Patent or upon account, the whole coinage including the making of the blanks be done in the Mint it being unsafe to have coining tools abread & coinage abroad. And that ye Petitioners & others who have copper works be treated with, & his copper chosen wch is best coloured & most malleable & cheapest of those sorts of copper wch will hammer when red hot. Such copper is worth about 11 or 12d the pound., & There is no certain test of finer copper. And the great price of the finest copper will tempt people to counterfeit the money made thereof. The copper may be either wrough hammered into plates at the All wch copper mills or cast into barrs in the Mint by the mixturesaddition of 2 or 3 ounces of Tin to an hundred weight of copper in fusion to make the metal to run close. The latter way is cheapesrt by 2d in the pound weight & the less the extrinsic value of the money is the less apt it will be to be counterfeited.

<432v>

In obedience to yor Lordps Order of Regerence upon the Petitions of Iohn Pery & others for making either blancks of plates of fine coper for coining half pence or farthings We humbly represent
~ ~That copper money is at prent very little wanted, but if it shall be thought fit to put the coinage of such money into a standing method, We are humbly of opinion
1 That ye whole coinage, including the blanks, be done in the Mint, it being unsafe to have coining tools abroad {illeg}& coinage abroad.

2 That it be done of copper either hammered into pla suchthe cheapest fine copper aswch will hammer when red hot & is worth about 11d or 12d per lwt. In finer & dearer copper we may be cheateddeceived, there being no certain test of its degrees of fineness, & the great price will tempt {illeg}fals coiners to counterfeit it

3 That it be done either out of copper either hammered into plates at the copper mills, or cast into blanks a barrs or fillets at ye Mint with an addition of two or three ounces of Tin to an hundred weight of copper in fusion to make the coppermetal runn close. The last way is cheapest by 2d in the pound wt & therefore p to be preferred. For that money will be least apt to be counterfeited wch has least extrinsic value in proportion to its eintrinsicthere will be least got by counterfeiting that money whose workmanship is cheapest.

4 That the stamp for avoiding frequent trouble to the Queen & Council in altering it, remain one & ye same unless it shall be thought fit at any time upon any extraordinary occasions to alter it.

5 That the theis money be edged wth such an edging as may {illeg}be fittest to prevent counterfeiting by casting.

6 That >one an Importer be {illeg}appointed to buy & import the copper by weight & receive it back by weight & tale & put the same away., & that he be paid by the weight of the copper for for his pains & charges.

7 That the Master & Worker for the time being be charged & discharged by his Notes as in the coinage of Gold & Silver & be allowed annotherOfficer Teller for surveying the {illeg}weighing the copper & telling the money {illeg} between hiom & the Importer & entring all receipts & paymts.,, & that if the copper imported be not Th goo prove not good upon the Assay the Master have power to refuse it.

[[That a person be appointed to survey the Meltings & the whole coinage.

8. That all the charge of Copper, coinage, coining tools, wages & incidents be paid out of the profits of the coinage,, & that there be no standing salaries but pa{illeg} That the copper to increase the extrinsic value of the money.

That a person be appointed to survey the meltings &

9 That it be in the power of the L H. Trearer or Commrs of the Treary for the time being to appoint by warrant what quantity of Copper money shall be coined at any time by his Warrant. And tThat a coinage of about 20 or 30 Tunns once in three or four years is a sufficient quantity or 50 Tunns once in 6 or 8 years is sufficient for supply the daily loss & wast of those that arethe money already coined. {illeg}& & may prove too much if ye
    That at prsent the want of copper money at present is very little wanted, but if it shall be thought fir to put the coinage of such money into a standing method from We are humbly of opinion that 20 or 30 Tunns it be done upon account counterfeiting of theis Copper money increases. And that a coinage of twenty or thirty Tunns or at the most 50 Tunns is abundantly sufficent at present.

10 That such a coinage may be done by afrom time to time by one & the same standing commission & that it be in the {illeg}power of the Ld H. Trearer or Commrs of ye Treary for ye time being to appoint by warrant the quanty of Copper money to be coined at any at a prior time to any time, & that for preventing clamours he appoint it by small quantities suppose {illeg}of 10, 20 or 25 Tunns in a Warrant.

11 That ye Accountant whether he be the Master or the Importer be allowed for his hazzards trouble & charges in Cashkeeping {illeg} & accounting.