'A Table of the weight and intrinsic value of forreign coynes in England'
A Table of the weight and intrinsic value of forreign coynes in England.
Weight | Value | |||
dwt | gr | s | d | |
Sevil pieces of eight, old Plate | 17. | 12 | 4. | 6 |
Sevil pieces of eight, new Plate | 14. | 00 | 3. | 7 |
Mexico pieces of Eight | 17. | 12 | 4. | 6 |
Pillar pieces of Eight | 17. | 12 | 4. | 6 |
Peru pieces of eight | 17. | 12 | 4. | 5 |
Cross Dollars | 18. | 00 | 4. | 4 |
Ducatons of Flanders | 20. | 21 | 5. | 6 |
Ecus of France or silver Lewises | 17. | 12 | 4. | 6 |
Crusados of Portugal | 11. | 04 | 2. | 10 |
Three Guilder Pieces of Holland | 20. | 07 | 5. | 2 |
Old Rix Dollars of the Empire | 18. | 10 | 4. | 6 |
The halfs quarters & other parts in proportion to their denominations & light pieces in proportion to their weight.
At the rate that Sevil Mexico & Pillar pieces of eight are raised in any of the Plantations from 4s 6d to 6s al the other pieces may be raised, that is in the proportion of four to three & not above. And according to this rate the Ecu of France and the old Rix Dollar of the Empire of the weight above mentioned may pass for 6s, the Peru piece of eight for 5s 10d, the Cross Dollar for 5s 10 the Ducaton of Flanders for 7s 4d, the Crusado of Portugal for 3s 9d & the three Guilder piece of Holland for 6s 11d.
The pieces of eight new Plate are of the same allay with the piece of old plate, but are lighter in the proportion of four to five & so may pass in the Plantations simply for 3s. 7d being of just weight, & five of them for four pieces of Eight old plate.
The Peru pieces of eight are more uncertain in their allay then the rest of the coyns. They are some of them eleven ounces fine or above & some of them half an ounce coarser of above & so they are recconed by the Goldsmiths in London. But according to the assays lately made in the Tower they are for the most part about 10 ounces 18 penny weight fine. At which rate a Peru piece of eight weighing 17dwt 12gr is worth 4s 5d intrinsic value & may pass in the Plantations for 5s 10d as above.
Is: Newton
Source
MINT 19/2/17, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UKJune 1704, c. 379 words.