"Report of the Assays of Spanish Pieces"

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[1]

Letter from the Master and Worker of the

Mint to Mr. Chancellour concerning the

Value of Spanish Money

Mint Office Ianry. 16th. 171$\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{3}}$

Sir

Our Assay Master being out of Town and his Clerk Sick in bed I got the Two Spanish Pieces Assayed at Goldsmith's Hall The Piece of King Charles weighed 3dead weight 12gr. and in fineness was four Penny Weight worse then Standard, The Value thereof in English Money is 10d. & $\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{5}}$ths. of a Penny The Piece of King Philip weighed 4dwt.. $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$ grain and was One Ounce Two Penny Weight worse then Standard and in Value 11d half Penny English They seem to be Quarter Pieces of Eight of the New Species and in the nearest Round Numbers, Five of them may be reckon'd worth a Mexico or Pillar Piece of Eight If I had had Two or Three More of each sort I could have made a better Iudgement of them, but by the best Iudgement I can make of these Two only it seems to Me that they may be diminished in Value of One Fift Part or in the Proportion of five to four. I am

Sir

Your most Obedient and

most Humble Servant

Is. Newton

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<text in Unknown Hand begins>Report of the Assays of Spanish pieces

57

Report of the Officers of the Mint