Partial draft of MINT00322 (Mint 19/2/111-16)

<38r>

Sr

I have enquired the weight & fineness of the coynes mentioned in your letter & they are as follows.      The Holland Ducat is 1 car ijgr better then standard & weighs 2dwt 4gr      The Three Guilder piece is 4dwt worse & weighs 20dwt 6gr      The Spanish Pistoll is $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$ worse & weighs 4dwt 8gr      The Pieces of Eight weigh 17dwt 12gr each, & the Pillar Piece is 2dwt better the Mexican 1dwt worse & the Pruvian 16dwt worse      A French Lewis d'Or weighs 4dwt 8gr & is worse $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$legr      A French Crown weighs 17dwt 12gr & is worse obdwt      The Cross Dollar weighs 18dwt & is 12$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$dwt worse.      A Jacobus & Carolus piece coyned for XXs is the 41th part of a pound Troy, & therefore weighs 7dwt & about $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ a grain But a broad Jacobus is the 38th part of a pound Troy.

The whole number of Guineas coyned in the reigns of K. Charles K James & K William to the present time is                 The value of Gold has been greater here then in Holland in all these three reigns & thence the gold monies coyned in the reigns of King Charles & King James were almost double to the silver monies coyned in the same reigns. And now Gold being at a higher value then in those reigns is the only metal brought into the Mint from abroad. The exchange in Holland is at present about 5 per cent for Bank money & 1$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$ more for Guineas that is about 6$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$ or 6$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ per cent for Guines, so that Guineas is Holland are worth but about 1lb. 0s 8d of oer milled silver monies.

The importation of silver is discouraged not only by its low price in proportion to gold but also by the Laws against exportation of Bullion the Merchant being unwilling to bring it on shore by reson of the difficulty they meet with in going off with it again in case they meet not with a good Mercat here.