Holograph memorandum on the coins current in Dunkirk and how to establish the rate of exchange
That all sorts of money are current at Dunkirk but under such values as are put upon them by the French.
That the old French Ecus & Lewidor's are lately called in & recoined into new Crowns of 5 Livres & Lewidor's of 20 livres. And these pieces are of the same allay as the former & of the same weight with english Crowns & Guineas abating a few grains for the charge of coinage.
That before the conquest of Lisle by the Dutch money was returned by the French to Dunkirk by Lisle & the value of the several coins at Dunkirk was regulated by their value at Lisle in livres sous & deniers. But since the conquest of Lisle the Dutch have introduced their own way of valuing the several coins by skillings & deniers or Gilders & styvers.
That at present there is no course of exchange by the Merchants of either England or Holland with Dunkirk: but moneys may be returned to Lisle or Antwerp & carried thence in specie to Dunkirk at a small charge.
That if moneys be returned to Antwerp or Lisle under the denomination of Guilders & Styvers & carried thence to Dunkirk & paid there to her Majestys forces according to the value put upon the several species of moneys at Antwerp or Lisle, recconing 10 Guilders 15 styvers to a pound English, there will need no new authority for paying her Majestys forces at Dunkirk. And this method may be continued till a better can be setled.
That the money of Holland & Flanders is valued higher at Lisle & Antwerp in proportion to French money then at Dunkirk & thereby there will be some loss in carrying such money to Dunkirk. And new French money in not yet to be had in quantity in Holland & Flanders if it can be had there in quantity & sent that to Dunkirk. But forreign Bullion may be bought of the Merchants & sent to Dunkirk to be coined, & paid to the forces at Dunkirk reconning a new French crown at about two or three per cent above its intrinsic value in English money or perhaps at 5s English & a new liver at 1s. But the intrinsic value of that money must be first known. For which end it may be convenient to examin a pound weight or two of new French crowns & some of the new Lewidors.
Source
MINT 19/2/170, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK1713?, c. 749 words.