In support of a protest by the Corporation of Moneyers against Wood's licence to coin [MINT00508 (Mint 19/2/460-61)]

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To the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of his Majestys Treasury

May it please your Lordships

The Corporation of the Moneyers represent that they have been brought up Apprentices to the trade of coining & that to set up new Mints without them diminishes the right of their Apprenticeship. They represent also that the multiplying of Mints tends to promote the skill of counterfeiting the gold & silver moneys, as happened in the coinage of Tin half pence & farthings in the beginning of the reign of King William & Queen Mary. For obviating these objections, & that of the insignificancy of a Comptroller of such a Mint, I humbly propose that Mr Wood prepare the blanks of fine Copper & make them fit to be stamped & then send them to the Mint in the Tower to be delivered there by weight & stamped & delivered back by the same weight. This may be done by a Signe manual appointing the Assay & the number of pieces in the pound weight & the stamp & yearly quantity, & what shall be allowed to the Moneyers Graver Smith & Assayer for their work & to a Clerk for seeing the Copper weighed & assayed & entring all receipts & deliveries in books, & acquainting me with what he finds amiss. The whole charge will not exceed two pence half-penny per pound weight. For I reccon nothing for my self. This I propose as safest for the government & to be done by vertue of the power reserved in his Majesty & your Lordships of controlling Mr Wood.

All which is most humbly submitted to your Lordships great wisdome

Isaac Newton.

Mint Office 21ty Jan 172$\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{3}}$.