Queries about the uses to which surplus funds in the Mint's hands may be put

Diplomatic TextCatalogue Entry

In The Act for encouraging of Coynage (18 Car. II. ch. 5) it is enacted that no monies leviable & 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 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 the Exchequer but by Order or Warrant of the Lord Treasurer & under Treasurer or Commissioners of the Treasury for the time being, to the Master and Worker of her Majestys Mint & mentioning that they are for the use & service aforesaid to be kept in her Majestys Officer of Receipt in the said Mint under the keys of the Warden Master & Comptroller & issued out thence from time to time according to the manner & course of the said Mint.

And it is further enacted that there shall not be issued out of the Exchequer 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 Houses 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.

Q 1. May any of the monies exceeding the three thousand pounds aforesaid be imployed by the Master & Worker of the Mint for buying of gold & silver to 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.


<326v>

Qu. 2 May the property of the said monies be altered by buying in gold & silver therewith to coyn , so as that the new moneys arising from such coynage may be imployed for buying Gold & silver to make Coronation Medals or for any other use to which the first moneys were not applicable.