Holograph notes on parliamentary proceedings relating to copper coinage 1694-1708

Author: Newton, Isaac

Diplomatic TextCatalogue Entry

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17 Apr. 1674. It was Resolved that the present Tinn Farthings & Half pence not being of the Intrinsick value, & being easy to be counterfeited, were an obstruction to Trade, & a great grievance ot the subject.
That the farthings & half pence to be made for the future, ought to be made of English metall & of the Intrinsick value, & to be coyned by their Majesties at the Mint.
And it was resolved not to be lett to Farms.
Vpon these Resolutions an Address was Ordered to be drawn up: which was done accordingly, & presented to his Majesty, that the Tinn farthings & half pence (not counterfeited) should be exchanged by his Majesty.
20 Apr. The Addresse.
23 Apr. The Kings Answer, Vizt
That he was willing to comply with the desires of the House, & would do this as far as was consistent with the publick good.
And soon after, An Agreement was accordingly made with certain persons to change the Tin halfpence & farthings for others of copper to be coyned for them by the Kings Officers at the Mint &c
13 Ian. 1695. A complaint was made that the Patentees made the Farthings & half pence of base Copper, and refused to deliver out any but for milled & broad unclipt money & at 10li or 15li per cent, & refused to exchange Tinn farthings.
3 Apr. The Committee made a Report
6 Apr. The Report was considered & several Resolutions made in behalf of the Patentees, vizt.
Resolved that upon Examination of the complaint made against the Patentees for making copper half pence & farthings, The Committee are of opinion that the said Patentees have made the said farthings & half pence of good <416v> copper according to the direction of their Patent.
Resolved,
That the said Patentees have exchanged & delivered out half pence & farthings for good & current silver money at the common value without any further recompence.
Resolved,
That the said Patentees have exchanged 200li a week of Tinn farthings & half pence for 200li of the like value in copper half pence & farthings pursuant to their said Patent.
In 16978 An Act passed for stopping the Coyning of half pence & farthings for one year.
In 16989 A Bill passed the House of Commons for preventing the coyning them for One year longer, but the Bill did not pass the Lords house.
In 1699700 A Bill was brought in for restraining the coyning any more half pence & farthings, but it went no further then the Committee.
1° Apr. 1708. (the last day of the session) A Petition of the Inhabitants of Southwark was read setting forth
That they were informed some persons were attempting to obtain a New Licence for a New Coynage of half pence & farthings tho they were loaded with great quantities thereof, & prayed the Consideration of the house.
This Petition was ordered to lye on the Table.
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Extracts out of the House of Commons Iournals about farthings