A Brief Account of the ancient Coins of England, and the severall alterations in their species, weight, and standard

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A Brief Account of the ancient Coins of England, and the severall alterations in their species, weight, and standard.

When Iulius Cæsar invaded England above 1700 years since he tells us in the 5.th book of his Commentarys,[1] that the Brittains used rings of Iron, and pieces of brass and copper unstamp'd instead of mony; but the Romans bringing over with them some of their Coins, Kynobelin a British Prince began in the time of Augustus to stamp monys in imitation of the Romans, some of which Coins Mr. Cambden assures us[2] were remaining in his time, as were also some pieces of the famous Brittish Queen Brunducia

When the Romans had entirely conquer'd this Kingdom, they suppressed the Brittish, and, as a mark of their Conquest, made the Roman Coins alone to pass here; which were current from the Reign of the Emperor Claudius down to the time of Valentinian the Younger, i.e. for about 500 years the mony being coined at Rome <8r> Lyons or Triers till Constantine the great erected a mint at London. Mr. Cambden assures us he had seen some of the Copper monys stampt here in this Citty with this Inscription P. Lon. S. which at length is Pecunia Londini Signata: when the Master of the Mint was styled Præpositus Thesaurorum Augustensium. Of these Roman Coins diverse have been found in after ages under Town and Castles ruin'd and demolish'd by the invading Saxons, & Danes.[3]

After the Romans quitted this Island, 'tis Mr. Cambden's opinion,[4] that their Coins passed current here for a long time; there having been no coins of Vortiger, Vortimer, Aurelius Ambrosius, Arthur, and other Brittish Princes (who liv'd in and about the year 500) ever yet found: nor do the Gentlemen acquainted with their language and history mention any coins that have been stampt in Wales, whilst it was two separat Kingdoms, in the time of the Saxon Heptarchy.

The most ancient English Coin that Mr. Cambden had ever seen was that of Ethelbert, a King of Kent, and 1.st Christian King of the English Nation; in whose time and after ages all reckonings and account were made by the denominations of pounds, shillings, pence, <8v> and mancuses.

The Pence[5] were Coins so called undoubtedly from the Latin word Pendo and they weighed about 1.d.wt having the Kings image stampt on the right side, and the Mint Masters on the reverse, or the names of the places where they were coyn'd.

Five of these pences made their shilling, and thirty pence their mancuse or mark; and 48 of the shillings made a pound; and 400 such pounds a Legacy for a King's daughter; as appears by King Alfred's last will and Testament: but the pence only, in Mr. Cambden's opinion, were reall coins; and the other terms of computation, by which they express'd their summs of mony.

The Danes brought in use a way of reckoning by Ores. The Severall Revolutions in this Island undoubtedly caused a very great variety in the current Coin, so that it must be very difficult, if it were of any good use to give an exact account of the severall species, standards, and current values of the gold, silver and Copper monys that pass'd within this Realm during the Pictish, Saxon, and Danish Invasions and Governments.

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The Kings of the Norman Race coyn'd only pences, with the Princes head on one Side, & the name of the Citty where coyned on the other,[6] & a cross of so deep an Impression, that a pieces might only be broken in two or 4 parts, whence these parts came to be nam'd half pences and farthings, alias four things.

Those Norman Princes, as their Saxon Predecessors had done before 'em, gave liberty to diverse of[7] their subjects to coyne, as a favour, or for reasons of State; in so much that every considerable Town had a person who coyned mony. In London there have been 8; at Canterbury 4 for the King, and two for the Arch-Bishop, and 1 for the Abbot; at Winchester 6; at Rochester 3; at Hastings 2; at Southampton, Exceter Shaftsbury; Lewis and Chichester the like number.

But this Practice very much expos'd the mystery of coynage, and in a few years brought in a world of mischief and disorder into Trade; by a most remarkable corruption of the mony which the severest Laws then made could not prevent; The debasers and counterfeitters of the coin had their eyes putt out, and their hands and genitalls cutt off; but the proffit by <9v> [8]so pernicious an artifice was so considerable that, death it self did not deterr ill men from the undertaking.

About the year 928 a law was made by King [9] Athelstane (which was mentioned by the late Lord Chancelour Sommers at the Tryall of the [10]Pix anno 1696.) that one and the same money should be current throughout all England; and if any Minter or Coyner (as 'tis expressd) embas'd the mony, his hand was to be cutt off and fix'd to the doors of the Mint.

This severe Law was discontinued for some time but fresh abuses in the coin gave occasion to King Edgar to revive it anno 975: & King Ethelred about 35 years after impos'd a fine and death it self on such as knowingly received bad mony or imported it.

Notwithstanding these severitys those Princes found it impossible to remedy that mischievous practice while they continued to grant to divers Towns and great men a privilege to make mony; for in King Stephen's reign <10r> every Earl and Baron had his privat mint; out of which wee have good reason to believe, there was more base and counterfeit mony issued than that of a just standard: if those privat mints had any other standard by which they coyned, besides the greedy avarice of the Owners, who many of 'em 'tis probable did purchas from needy Princes so gainfull a privilege; and when they once obtain'd it, made hay while the Sun shone, and refunded themselves by uttering their mony at an overvalue: and though the Grants were for a term at the expiration whereof the Grantees surrendred their Patents, yet 'tis likely they kept their skill in use.

For Henry the 2d found the Kingdom so extreamly pesterd with counterfeit mony, that he[11] putt a stop to all the mony then current & recoyn'd it, which it seems, was to the great advantage of the publick though it proved a loss to some privat men: yet he afterwards, wee find, granted to certain Cittys and Abbeys a liberty to coin under severall restrictions. In this Princes reign a method of trying[12] monys by assay was appointed by the Bishop of Salisbury <10v> then Lord Treasurer, which is recited at large at the end of Mr Lowndes his late Essay: and t'is not improbable that the Tryal of the Pix, to ascertain the publick of the real value of the coins made by authority, was first settled in this reign.

In the reign of King Richard the 1st. the coin made in Germany being in good esteem,[13] divers persons were sent for and employ'd in our Mints and from these [14]Foreigners, who liv'd in the Eastern parts of Germany, some are of opinion that the monys they coynd were afterwards called Sterling, which term is use'd in a statute[15] of the 25 Edwd. the 3d. And Mr. Cambden assures us that the Phraze Nummi Esterlingi was to be found in diverse old Instruments and ancient Deeds.

Yet after the forementioned reform made by those Foreigners, others viz the Iews and Italians who in that age best understood trade and the value and use of mony clip'd and debas'd the reformed Coins of Richd. the 1st.[16] to that degree that King Henry the 3d. was obliged to stop their currency by proclamation, and to call in the old monys and recoyn 'em. Tho the people being directed to bring their old monys to the Kings Exchange were great loosers by the said Exchange; for they <11r> received back in new mony no more than the value of 20d. for 30. This Prince reduced the Coin to the Assise of his Progenitors which is mention'd in a Statute made 51° Henry the 3d.[17]

King Edward the 1.st his Successour, as Mr. Cambden informs us from the book of St. Edmundsbury, established a standard of the silver coins, which was this

	oz	dwt	gr
{	11:	2:	06	fine silver	}
	00:	17:	18	alloy
12:	00:	00

And the Penny was first made of a round shape which afterwards was square and divisible into 4 parts: and the $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ penny & farthing were made of the same figure.

The French in this King's reign had counterfeited our Coins and stock'd the Nation with 3 sorts of base mony call'd Pollards, Crocars & Rosaryes, which King Edward call'd in and reformed: but in a short time the new mony he made was transported; and forreign coins call'd Mitres and Lyons imported in such a quantity that the King forbid them by proclamation: The Iews were notoriously guilty of clipping in this reign, in so much that 297 of 'em were executed[18] in the Citty of London for that crime: and the reformed <11v> Crocars and Pollards were cryd down to an $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ penny value; and other coins such as the Rosaries, Stepings, & staldings were forbid to pass. In short the abuses by clipping and counterfeiting the English, and importing forreign base monys were become so intollerable in this and the following reign, that King Edward the 3d. was obliged to provide by new Laws against so growing a mischief.

In his 9th. year a Law was made to prohibit the Exportation of mony, plate, or vessels of silver out of the Realm, without licence upon pain of forfeiture and the Importation of counterfeit mony by Pilgrims and others, and the melting down of the current coin to make Silver plate.

In his 18.th year the King was impowred to appoint Exchangers for mony,[19] where he thought fitt; & in his 25th. year counterfeiting the Kings coin and importing false mony was declared treason: and the money then current was not to be debased or diminished under severe penaltys.

This Prince seem'd to be in good earnest for reforming the great abuses in the current coin as appears <12r> by Severall Acts pass'd in the 9th, 18, 25, 27, 37, 38, and 47th years of his reign

King Richard the 2d. his immediat successour in his 5.th year strictly prohibited the exportation of mony; and in his 14.th year settled the value of diverse pieces of scotch mony: and in his 17.th forbid the currency of forreign monys; ordering it to be all brought to the Mint, & coynd into the current coins of England.

In the 4.th year of Henry 4.th an Act was made appointing the proportion of small monys to be coyn'd for the conveniency of exchange, & $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{3}}$d part of the silver brought to the Mint was ordered to be coyn'd into pieces calld half pence, and farthings; & the Master of the Mint sworn to observe that proportion: and forreign Marchants were to lay out in the produce of this Kingdom the monys they received here for their forreign Commoditys. And a Coin calld gally-halfpence brought hither by the Genoese Marchants was cryd down in his 11.th year not being of intrinsic value.

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In the reign of Henry 5.th clipping, washing and filing grew too much in fashion, and great complaints arising thereupon, they were declared and made Treason by an Act pass'd in his 4th. year, and in the 9th. year of his reign, the Gold monys being very much debas'd in the alloy and diminished in weight were forbid in all payments after a certain time, and an Act was made for Gold and Silver monys to the Tower to be recoyn'd, and diverse Exchanges were appointed by the King to receive the old uncurrent mony and deliver out the new.

In this King's reign a Mint was erected at Calis to coin monys for the service of that garrison, and the foreign Forces, but most of the monys there coyn'd being drawn off into the neighbouring Countrys, in the course of Trade; an Act was [20]made sometime after to prevent the exportation of any monys hence—, or passing any from that Town, but with a clause that provided for the Kings Forces, and Garrisons beyond the Seas. at the same time, the Gally $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ pence, suskins and <13r> dothings were crye'd down by proclamation, and the Master of the Mint obliged by Act of Parliament and Indenture with the King to coin groats, $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ groats, pence, $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ pence, & farthings for the ease of the people in exchange. In this Kings reign, (Sir Robert Cotton says) that one Missenden & others had commissions granted 'em to practise Alchimy for supplying the Mint, . [The Standard appointed by the Authority continued, for what I find in gold and silver monys invariable from the time of Edwd 1.st to the 34 of Henry 8th; but in the time of the Civil Warrs between the House of York & Lancaster very great abuses were committed in debasing clipping and exporting the current mony: The Governments in that time were engaged principally in raising men and mony for the Princes on the throne and in disappointing the continuall intreagues of the adverse party: yet they found it necessary at some times to give check to the growing abuses of the Coin.

Henry the 7.th, whose accession to the throne putt an end to the bloody contest between the Houses <13v> York and Lancaster took care by diverse good Laws to make provision against the abuses of the Coin committed in former reigns.

A sort of mony called Irish mony was forbid in all payments. No gold & silver in Bullion nor plate or mony was to be exported, nor any current mony to be melted down under severe penaltys: and a remedy was made to prevent the abuses of Refiners and parters of gold and silver. The counterfeiting of foreign monys, current in this kingdom by authority, was made Treason by a fresh Law, and the exportation thereof–     prohibited under strict penaltys.[21]

In his 19th. year a Law was made,[22] to settle the value of diverse of the current coins according to their weight and finenesse, for the law expressly says, that all gold coins called a Soveraign, $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Soveraign, a Rial, $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Riall, an Angel, $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Angel, being of due weight and fineness shall be current at the value they were coyned: and all groats coyned in England or forreign pieces passing under that denomination being good silver, and not clipp'd or otherwise lessen'd in their weight (reasonable wearing excepted) and all two pences of the like condition shall pass for <14r> the value at which they were coyned. All pence of silver of the Kings stamp were to continue current at that value; except pieces stampt with the figures of diverse spurrs, or the mullets betwixt the cross barrs, both which were to pass in all payments, as half pence. And all English and Foreign coins of the aforesaid denominations, clip'd, minished, or otherwise impair'd were not to pass in any payement whatsoever, but notice was given that all persons having such uncurrent mony, might exchange it at the Mint, or convert it into plate or any other use. And to prevent clipping, the King by the advice of his Councill caus'd groats and two pences to be coyn'd with a circle neer the edge of the piece. And all gold coins for the future were to have the inscription entire, otherwise they were not to pass.

By the same Law the Warden and Comptroler of the Mint were to forfeit their offices, and be fined at the Kings pleasure if they suffer'd mony to be deliver'd out of the Mint not made according to this regulation.

Also former Statuts against the exportation of <14v> mony, plate, and Iewells were reviv'd and no person was allowed to carry out of England into Ireland above the value of 6s.8d nor to bring thence above the value of 3s.4.d

And now wee are come to that reign wherein more mischief was done to the publick in a prodigious debasement of the silver monys by publick authority and the King's commission than had been by clipping, debasing and counterfeiting by private hands, in all the former reigns.

King Henry 8.th (who had a great treasure left him by his father, and wise a prudent Prince) in his 1st. year[23] continued the Acts of 17 Edward 4th. and the 1.st Henry 7. 3. against the exportation of mony: and a certain proportion of the severall species were appointed to be coyn'd viz in every 100£ sterling of gold 20£ Sterling was to be coyned into $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Angels or 4 pennypieces [24]and in every 100£ sterling of silver, there was to be 50£ sterling in groats: 20£. Sterlings in two penny-pieces: 20£. Sterling <15r> in pence, 10 marks Sterling in $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ pence, & 5 marks value in farthings. This was a good provision for the conveniency of exchange.

The Standard for silver established in the 28th. of Edward 1st. had now continued for about 300 years without any alteration to the 34.th year of this king; who, though he had the greatest opportunity of filling his Exchecquer, that ever any king of England before him mett with by the dissolution of Monasterys, confiscation of their plate and moveables and sale of their Lands; and by first fruits, tenths and exactions et cetera. Yet to the great blemish of his reign, and the damage of his people, and successours he began to debase the Silver monys in his 34th year by mixing with the silver $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{6}}$ part of copper alloy: and 2 years after, the mony was coyn'd out of a mass that was one $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ silver and the other $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ copper. The following year being the 38.th of his reign $\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{3}}$d of the metall coyn'd was copper and but $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{3}}$d silver. This was an intolerable corruption, to which the King (we are told)[25] was advised by one Parson Brocke; with whome one Sir John Rainsford who was a sufferer by the debasement, was very angrey and threatned to break his head for disgraceing his sovereign <15v> with a copper nose, as he familiarly express'd it.

From before the reign of Henry 3d to the middle of the reign of Henry the 8.th the Kings of their Exchanges,[26] the profitts whereof were considerable, and all subject by severall Acts of Parliament were forbid to make any advantage by such Exchanges, it being a kind of monopoly vested in the Crown. This is a method of raising mony long since disused: Sir Robert Cotton was of opinion it might have produced a revenue of 10000£s per annum to the Crown, besides a constant supply of Bullion for the service of the Mint.

The Profusion of King Henry the 8th. had brought him under a kind of necessity of debasing his coins to supply his occasions: and when once a Court has given way to so notorious a violation of publick faith; 'tis so easy a method of supply, that 'tis a perpetuall temptation to repeate the attempt, whenever the Government is press'd by any emergent occasion: as, to look no further for an instance, has been lately the practice of the Courts at Versailles, & Dublin.

King Edward the 6.th came to the throne 3 years after his father had begun the debasement of the silver monys: and the Prince being under <16r> the direction of a Council his father had appointed by his will; and the Government having contracted some debts, and being out of cash, the Mints, he tell us, in his Iournal were set at work to coin 24000ll for one year to bear the King's charges in Ireland, and 1000£ to be put into the King's coffers.

Sir Iohn York Master of a Mint in the Tower,[27] as the King expresses it, undertook to supply the Mint with bullion provided he might have the proffitts, by coyning such silver as he imported. Out of the mony so coyn'd 120000£s was orderd towards payment of the publick debts, and 10000£ was to be a stock to trade with all, and the proffitts thereof were to be apply'd to the same purpose. Afterwards Sir John York was directed to coyne 20000L.wt into current mony of a coarser alloy vizt 3oz of silver & 9oz. of copper in the pound and 160000Ls were intended to be coynd of this base mony, but no more than half that summ was actually coynd at that time: being found sufficient to discharge the whole debt of the Government: but not long after, the charges in fortifying Calis & Barwick requiring a new supply, order was given to coyn 40000L. more of the same standard.

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This excessive debasement produced great uneasinesse among the people, & rais'd all commoditys to an intolerable price; so that the Government found it necessary to issue proclamations for punishing such persons, as spread rumours concerning alterations in the mony: whereof some that was then current had 9oz. 8. 4 and 130000£ but 3oz of silver in the pound weight standard. Hereupon all sorts of provisions rose to a high price, & they too were regulated by proclamation: but that being a remedy insufficient for the cure of those publick disorders; another proclamation was issued to fall the current value of all the Silver monys in England in one day: and the Testoon which was paid by the King, and made current at 12d was lower'd to 9d and the groat to 3d. yet this was much above their intrinsic value, however the fall was so considerable, that all persons whose Estates were in ready mony, lost by it $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$th. part of their whole fortunes. The mony thus fallen being still at too high a value, the publick disorders in trade, by so great an uncertainty in the rule commerce continued; which obliged <17r> the Government, in a short time after, to fall the Testoon to 6.d and the inferiour species in proportion: which was just half the value, at which they were first issued, & paid by the Government to the people, yet near double the reall & intrinsick value.

At last the Government being convinc'd, that they ought to take other measures before this evill could be entirely redress'd:[28] The Lord Treasurer & the Master of the house were authoriz'd accordingly to regulate the coin, which they did by directing the Testoon to be coyn'd at 11.oz..1dwt. standard in the Tower, and that all mony of a coarser alloy should be coynd at York and Canterbury. This resolution produced a new Proclamation for bringing all the Testoons to the Mint to be recoyn'd, and in a little time after, all the mony current throughout all Ireland was stop'd in one day & 3000.£ wt of silver was sent thither to be coynd at 3 deniers standard

Yet the Government was immediatly sensible that this was but an imperfect cure for whilst they <17v> admitted the coyning of two sorts of mony; the one neer the real, & the other of a nominal value the disorders in the markett, and the perplexitys of trade grew daily to a greater height. The Magistrats of London and other Corporations, were commanded to settle the price of Commoditys, and to keep good order in the market; but all to no purpose. Nay the Lords of the Council came to Guildhall, sent for the Lord Mayor and Court of Alderman and threatned 'em to seize their Charter if they neglected to regulate the excessive rates of all Commoditys, which alas; was not in their power to do, whilst any mony continued current at a great overvalue: for the people had as good reason to raise their Commoditys to twice, 3ce., 4 times the former value, as the Government had to raise the mony they coyn'd and paid to the people at the like overvalue. The Regency in this Princes reign made mony a commodity, and the Mint a Monopoly; as the Kings of France make their advantage by the praemption of salt, so here you were to take the King's base mony at the value he sett upon it, and not at the rate silver went att in forreign marketts; whereupon the people being injur'd by the State, attempted, as they ever did & will do, to repair their loss, and bring things to their generall <18r> and naturall value, by demanding the same rates for their good, as which the King required his base mony to be taken - nec Lex est justior ulla

Interest in this Princes reign was 14 per Cent, high premio's were given for the procuration, & forbearance of mony, & the Kings debts grew upon him 'till at last they amounted to 251000L. which was a vast summ in those days. Yet all this was the naturall & ordinary effect of debasing and corrupting the publick cash: for whenever that's don, be it by privat hands or publick authority, the event will be always the same; & if disorders happen, whenever the people do endeavour to right themselves, The consequences thereof are justly chargeable upon them who reduce their subjects to a necessity of doing justice to themselves.

Thus for reasons of State, the justice & creditt whereof I leave to the Politicians of those times, the silver coins of England were wretchedly debas'd by authority in the declining age of Henry 8th. and the Nonage of Edward the 6.th, And the old english Stand of 222dwt which had continued from the 18 of Edwd. the 3d through the reigns of nine Princes, who were most of 'em engaged in forreign, or civill wars, at <18v> home, and were often in great streights to supply their occasions; yet they inviolably maintaind the purity of the coin, as the Palladium of the State, 'till in the 34.th of Henry the 8th he durst undertake the doing that by colour of his Prerogative, which was expressly forbidden by about one or two and twenty Acts of Parliament made in the reign of his Predecessours; & for doing of which many hundreds of Iews, and other Criminalls had sufferd death, or such other penaltys, as were appointed by Law.

The Council of Edward the 6.th who thought is necessary in the former part of his reign, to supply the publick occasions, by corrupting the coin did in his Sixth year find, by experience, a greater necessity for reforming it; which reform was just begun before the death of that incomparable young Prince. As for Queen Mary his successour during her short reign she coyn'd at the old standard of 222.dwt a small quantity of silver monys: yet the base mony of Edward 6.th was still current 'till the 3.d year of Queen Elizabeth.

This excellent Princess soon after she came to the crown began a reformation both in Church and State; and having the advice of an admirable Ministry, she went through all the difficultys that attended her undertaking with success. In her 3d year her Council had under consideration the State of the Coin, and the major part of 'em were at first <19r> enclin'd to debase it, but those two eminent Ministers of State, the Lord Treasurer Burleigh, & Secretary Smith hinderd that design; & gave, in a memoriall, such reasons for continuing the old Standard, as fixed the resolution of the Queen to maintain it, & to reform all the base mony then current in her kingdom: And though she was afterwards sollicited by divers projectors, she never yielded to any alteration.

Wee are told by Mr. Cambden that the best of our coins were in the former reigns exported to Rome for first fruits, pardons, appeals, dispensations, Palls &ca. That there were great summs of brass & counterfeit mony imported upon us, & exchang'd for our Commoditys, & that the badness of the coin was very detrimentall to soldiers, servants, and day labourers.– That the reformation of the coin was effected in a few months by a prohibition to melt down or export either good or bad monys, by reducing the base coins of Henry 8th. & Edward 6th. to their just value viz

The penny	}	was reduc'd to	{	to – 3 farthings	}	This being, as Cambden tells us, the real value of
The two pence				to – 3 half pence
The Testoon				to – 4 pence
Another Testoon				to – 2 pence

of the silver that was in those Coins.

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And lastly the Queen gave such who brought their base mony to the Mint, in a certain time, new mony in exchange, she her self bearing the loss. This is Mr. Cambden's whole account of that important affair, and the best account that any of the Historians of those times afford us. It might indeed have been expected that her Majestys Mint in the Tower should have preserv'd some Iournalls for the information of future ages in this great affair: But either the Gentlemen who then manag'd the coinage neglected to sett down any minutes for the service of posterity; or the officers who succeeded 'em have not been so carefull to preserve 'em there for publick use; in short if there is any particular Memoirs of the Queens grand Coynage now in being, they are in private hands.

The best Account we have at present is,–[29] That an Indenture dated the 3d. year of the Queen, appointed one Fleetwood then Vndertreasurer of the Mint in the Tower, to receive by tale the base monys therein mention'd at the rates before named in a Proclamation, in that behalf: and to give Bills, under his hand, to the severall Importers for repayment of them in the new monys cony'd at the standard of 222dwt.    The base mony received was enter'd in one Ledger kept by the Vndertreasurer, and the new mony repaid in another kept by severall Tellers. And the <20r> Comptroler and Assaymaster kept Accounts of the melting down and the refining of the base monys, as vouchers to the VnderTreasurer (for his loss by wast and coarsness) who was to accompt for the whole with the Queen.

But what the amount was of the base monys then recoyn'd, what the debasement, and what the refining charge, how much was weekly or monthly coyn'd in that great Coynage, how many persons were employ'd in the service, how many extraordinary officers and Clerks appointed, what the loss or deficiency actually was upon the whole, what supply the people had for trade, whilst the Cash of the whole kingdom was recoyning, and how long the whole was a doing, 'til the reform was perfected; is not, I doubt, discoverable by any Memorialls remaining in the Exchequer, and I am sure cannot be known from the Books and Papers of the Mint in the Tower of London.

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On the foot this Excellent Princess settled the Gold and Silver Standards in her 3d. year, they continued during her whole reign in this kingdom: and the same species of silver monys, excepting the three half penny, 3 farthings, $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ penny, and farthing pieces, have ever since been coynd, in the reigns of her severall successors.

I don't find that any project was offerd to the Government for alt'ring the weight, fineness, or nominal value of the silver monys in all the reign of King James the 1.st. The gold indeed current in his time was rais'd 2d. in the pound sterling by a proclamation issued in his 9th. year, upon consultation had with the officers of the Mint in the Star Chamber anno 1610.[30] Richard Baker.

But in the 2d. year of King Charles the 1st[31] some Proposalls were made to debase the coins or raise them in their nominal value: which the Kings necessitys enclin'd the Government at that time to take into consideration: and the Projectors had severall hearings before the Privy Council; who thought it proper to referr the proposalls to the Officers of the Mint to have their opinion of the Matter. And they by what reasons induc'd, I <21v> cannot positively say, fell in with the Proposers; and endeavour'd, in the Report they made, to justify the reasonableness of raising the current value of the silver monys. Yet the Council did not depend altogether upon the sense of the Officers of the Mint, who, if they did not, ought to have known better, but consulted hereupon that very Learned Gentleman, & excellent Antiquary Sir Robert Cotton, who appeared in Council the 2d September 1626, and with divers precedents and irrefutable arguments opposed the Projectors, & the Officers of the Mint too; deliv'ring his mind with great zeale for the King and kingdom, and tenderness of the wellfare and reputation of both.

To what Sir Robert Cotton had said,[32] the officers of the Mint had liberty to give in their answer, and to their answer he made a very smart reply: which had that success at the Council board, that the proposalls were absolutly rejected. which, by the way, was a very great service don to the Nation in generall by that very worthy Gentleman, and I cannot but have, on this account in particular, a great veneration for his memory.

<22r>

The King's circumstances in the beginning, but especially at the latter end of his reign expos'd him extreamly to the temptation of corrupting or raising the current monys, to subsist his arms and support his declining Interest. and there was, it seems a project on foot for coyning brass mony[33] in the year 1642, but he never yielded to that injurious expedient to maintain his Cause. However a Mint was erected that year at Shrewsbury, where was coyn'd all the plate presented to the King by the University of Cambridge, and the well affected Nobility and Gentry. And in 1644 he caus'd another Mint to coyne silver monys at Oxford, but all the monys coynd at both places were of the old standard, and of a just and legal value. And the Oxford $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Crowns especially were very current in all payments 'til the late reform 1696.

After the death of King Charles the 1st. they who had then the management of publick affairs, order'd the monys to be coyn'd with a new stamp & inscription, but did not alter the standard. Of this sort of mony there was coyn'd about 700000L.– which upon the restauration of King Charles the 2d. was forbid in <22v> all payments, and recoynd with 130000£ in french silver mony, which the King was paid for the sale of Dunkirk.

In the 14.th year of King Charles the 2d. both the Gold and Silver monys began to be coynd with the M+[34]ill and press; the way of coyning by the Hammer being layd aside, after it had obtaind in England for many ages. This new method was very much to be prefer'd, on many accounts; for the impression was much finer, the pieces more uniform, and of a juster weight; and the dispatch in coynage considerably more. The French Writers tell us the Mill in coyning [35]had been usd at Bearne, Paris, Lyons, Tholouse and severall other Mints in France, many years before.

All the monys coynd in England, in King Charles the 2ds. time, and in the short reign of King James the 2d. were of the old standard of 222d..wt and the small quantity of silver monys that were made from his late Majesty: King William's accession to the Throne, to the year 169$\frac{\mathrm{5}}{\mathrm{6}}$ when the great Recoiinage began, were all of the same standard. But King James his necessitys, immediatly after his landing in Ireland, causd him to sett up a Mint <23r> in Dublin,[36] and out of a very coarse copper, and the Mettall of several old Gunns mony was coynd to subsist his forces, and supply his occasions; which base monys were made current in all payments, under severe penaltys for refusing 'em, by proclamation dated 18th. Iune 1689. And in the year 1690, when a considerable number of these copper coins had passd under the denomination of $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Crowns, they were all call'd in, the impression only alterd, and then issued at a Crown a piece in all payments: so that one pound weight of this base mettall which was really of about 14d or 16d value at the most by the Kings Proclamation alone, when coyn'd into mony, made current throughout all Ireland at the value of about 3£: 10s: 00d sterling i.e. about 60 times more than the reall value of the mettall in the piece. Of this base mony there was coynd from the beginning of Iune 1689 'til the 1st. of Iuly 1690 being the day of the victory at the Boyne, nine hundred sixty five thousand seven hundred thirty five pounds. But King William as soon as he came to Dublin, reduc'd by a Proclamation dated the 10th. of Iuly 1690, that whole summe neerer its intrinsic value for the Copper Crown was reducd to a penny, the half Crown to 3.q, the large shilling to a half penny and the small shilling and six pence to a farthing value, <23v> in all future payments.

By which reduction the aforesaid summ of 963,375£ fell in one day to about 16000£ sterling; so that the people lost thereby about 949,000£ sterling.

Having given a very brief Account of the severall Alterations in our silver coins, either by publick authority, or by privat hands from the time of Augustus to his present Majesty, it may not be unacceptable to present my Readers with a Table of both Gold and Silver coins, wherein at one view, may be seen the Names, number of pieces in a pound weight, the particular weight of each species, the standard and the present value of all the severall species of gold and silver monys that have been coynd in England by publick authority from the 18.th year of Edw.d the 3d. when the oldest Indenture now remaining in the Exchequer, is dated, and so proceed through the severall reigns 'til we come down to Her present Majestty.

Here the Tables of the Hammer'd Coins, are to be inserted.

<24r>

Tables of the Silver Coins from $\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{28}}$ Edward 1st. to the present Queen

<24v>

[Editorial Note 1]

Names of Silver Coins

Number of pieces in one £10.

Weight of each Coins

Standards ~ of the Coins

Present Value ~

Present Value of each Coin

The year of each King's Reign

The Masters & Workers of the Mint ~

{illeg}

Lib.

Stand.

dwts

gr.s

pts

Mettals.

dwts

grs

£

s

d

s

d

q

Silver...

222.

00

{illeg}2.

02.

00

} {

28 Edward 1st ~

{

By this Indenture Halfpence x farthings of silver were coynd ~

Assay...

–18.

00

Standard.

240.

00

20 Edward 3.

Percival De Perche

Ditto. . . . .

Ditto . . . .

s

d

q

{

Grosses ~

} {

–75

} {

–3.

04.

$\frac{\mathrm{12}}{\mathrm{15}}$

{

Ditto . . . . . .

{illeg}

Ditto . . . . .

{

00.

09.

03+

} {

27 Edward 3.

} {

Henry Brissell

Half-Grosses...

150

–1.

14.

$\frac{\mathrm{6}}{\mathrm{15}}$

00.

04.

03+

Sterlings, or pence

300

–0.

19.

$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{15}}$

00.

02.

01+

} {

30. ditto & 37, 46th 18 Richard 1st.

{

ditto.....

} {

ditto

} {

. . . . Ditto . . . . .

} {

Ditto . . . . . .

} {

Ditto . . . .

}

Ditto . . . . . .

{

$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Sterlings, or Mailes

{

600

} {

...0.

09

$\frac{\mathrm{8}}{\mathrm{15}}$

} {

Ditto . . . . . .

} {

Ditto .....

} {

00.

01.

3...

} {

3 Henry 4i

{

{

Grosses. . . . . .

} {

.–90

} {

–2.

16.

–

} {

Ditto . . . . . .

} {

Ditto . . . .

} {

00.

08.

0q

} {

$\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{9}}$ Henry 5th.

} {

Bartholomew Goldbeater

$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Grosses. . . . .

.180

–1.

8.

–

00.

04.

00$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

Sterlings. . . . .

.360

–0.

16.

–

00.

02.

00.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$

Mailes. . . . .

.720

–0.

08.

–

00.

01.

00$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{8}}$

Farthings. . . ..

1440

–0.

04.

–

00.

00.

02$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{16}}$

{

Groats. —

} {

.112$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

} {

–2.

03.

$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{5}}$

} {

Ditto . . . . . .

} {

Ditto.....

} {

00.

06.

2+

} {

1° Henry 6... $\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{4}}$ ditto. as in the 9 Henry 5

} {

Sir Gyles Dawbency Robert Mansfield ~

$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Groat —

.225

–1.

01.

$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{5}}$

00.

03.

1+

Sterlings or pence

.450

–0.

12.

$\frac{\mathrm{4}}{\mathrm{5}}$

00.

01.

2+

$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ pence —–

.900

–0.

06.

$\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{5}}$

00.

00.

3+

Farthings . . .

1800

–0.

03.

$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{5}}$

00.

00.

1$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$+

{

Pence––––

} {

396

} {

–0.

14.

$\frac{\mathrm{6}}{\mathrm{11}}$

} {

Ditto – –––

} {

Ditto.....

} {

00.

01.

3+

} {

$\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{5}}$ Edward. 4th.Ditto 1 Richard 3d. & 9 Henry 7th.

} {

Edward Lord Hastings

{

Groats ......

} {

135

} {

–1.

18.

$\frac{\mathrm{18}}{\mathrm{27}}$

} {

Ditto – –––

} {

Ditto

} {

00.

05.

2

} {

$\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{1}}$ Henry 8th

} {

Ralph Bowlett & Martin Bowes –

Half Groats......

270

–0.

221.

$\frac{\mathrm{9}}{\mathrm{27}}$

00.

02.

3

Sterlings, or pence

540

–0.

10.

$\frac{\mathrm{18}}{\mathrm{27}}$

00.

01.

1$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

Half-pence......

1080

–0.

5.

$\frac{\mathrm{9}}{\mathrm{27}}$

00.

00.

2$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{4}}$

Farthings......

2160

–0.

2.

$\frac{\mathrm{18}}{\mathrm{27}}$

00.

00.

1$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{8}}$

{

Testoons . . . . .

} {

..48

} {

–5.

00.

–

} {

Silver.

200 dwts

} {

2£

15s.

10.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$+d

} {

01.

01.

2$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{6}}$

} {

34 Henry 8th

} {

Ditto ~

Groats . . . . .

.144

–1.

16.

–

00.

04.

2.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{18}}$

Halfgroats . . . .

.288

–0.

20.

–

Assay.

–40 dwt.

00.

02.

1.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{36}}$

Pence . . . . . . . .

.576

–0.

10.

–

00.

01.

0.$\frac{\mathrm{37}}{\mathrm{72}}$

Halfpence . . . . .

1152

–0.

5.

–

Standard

240 ~

00.

00.

2.$\frac{\mathrm{37}}{\mathrm{144}}$

Farthings. . . . .

2304

–0.

2.

$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

00.

00.

1.$\frac{\mathrm{37}}{\mathrm{188}}$

<25v>

[Editorial Note 2]

Name of the Silver Coynes		Number of pieces in 1 £wt		Weight of each Coyne				Standard of the Coins			present value of the £wt standard.		present Value of each Coin				Year of each King's Reign		Names of the Master & Workers of the Mints
				Dwts	gr.s	p.ts							Ds.	q.	pts
Testoons......	{	–48	} {	5.	–	–	} {		dwts	} {	1£: 13s: d6.$\frac{\mathrm{36}}{\mathrm{233}}$	}	8.	1.	$\frac{\mathrm{6}}{\mathrm{12}}$	}	$\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{36}}$ Henry 8th–	{	Sir Martin Bowes	}
Groats.......		.144		1.	16.	–		Fine Silver	120				2.	3.	$\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{12}}$
Halfgroats......		.288		0.	20.	–		Assay....	120				1.	1.	$\frac{\mathrm{7}}{\mathrm{12}}$
Pence.......		.576		0.	10.	–			——				0.	2.	$\frac{\mathrm{9}}{\mathrm{24}}$
Halfpence.....		1172		0.	5.	–		Standard	240				0.	1.	$\frac{\mathrm{9}}{\mathrm{48}}$
Pence.......		.576		0.	10.	–							0.	0.	$\frac{\mathrm{67}}{\mathrm{96}}$
Ditto......		Ditto....		Ditto .....			{	Fine Silver dwt80 alloy — –160	— —	} {	£1: s2: d4$\frac{\mathrm{24}}{\mathrm{222}}$	{	5–	2.	$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{3}}$	}	37 Henry 8th—	{	Ditto —	}
								Standard dwt240	–				1.	3.	$\frac{\mathrm{4}}{\mathrm{9}}$
													0.	3.	$\frac{\mathrm{13}}{\mathrm{18}}$
													0.	1.	$\frac{\mathrm{31}}{\mathrm{36}}$
													0.	0.	$\frac{\mathrm{67}}{\mathrm{72}}$
													0.	0.	$\frac{\mathrm{67}}{\mathrm{1444}}$
Ditto ... ...	} {	Ditto.....	} {	Ditto ......			} {	Ditto ......		} {	Ditto.....	} {	Ditto . . . . .			} {	1° & 2° of King Edward the 6th....	} {	Sir Martin Bowes. Tower Mint William Tilsworth .... Cantebury. York ......... Southwark. George Gale . ––––York—	{
Shillings.....	} {	72....	} {	03.	8.	0	} {	Fine Silver . . alloy.... –. stand–	120dwts– 120– 240	} {	L01. s13. d6$\frac{\mathrm{36}}{\mathrm{222}}$	} {	5.	2.	$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{3}}$	} {	3°. Edward 6th....	} {	Sir Edmund Peckham & others Commission —	}
Shillings....	} {	72....	} {	...03.	8.	00	} {	Fine Silver . alloy.... –. stand–	60dwts 180 240	}{ {	£00. s16. d9$\frac{\mathrm{30}}{\mathrm{37}}$	} {	2.	3.	$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{}}$	} {	$\frac{\mathrm{0\; 0}}{\mathrm{4\; \&\; 5}}$ Edward 6th....	} {	Ditto – – – – –	}
Crowns.....	} {	12	} {	20.	0.	0	} {	Fine Silver. Alloy.... Stand Lwt	221dwts –19 240	} {	L03. s01. d08.q2$\frac{\mathrm{22}}{\mathrm{37}}$	} {	s5.	.d02.	q2.$\frac{\mathrm{10}}{\mathrm{12}}$	} {	th6 Edward 6th.	} {	Sir Edmund Peckham	}
$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Crowns		24		10.	0	0							2.	6.	3 $\frac{\mathrm{5}}{\mathrm{12}}$
Shillings......		60		4.	0	0							1.	0.	1.$\frac{\mathrm{4}}{\mathrm{12}}$
Sixpences .....		120		2.	0.	0							0.	3.	0.$\frac{\mathrm{8}}{\mathrm{12}}$
Threepences......		240		1.	0.	0							0.	3.	0.$\frac{\mathrm{4}}{\mathrm{12}}$
Pence—......		720		0.	8.	0							0.	1.	0.$\frac{\mathrm{4}}{\mathrm{36}}$
Halfpence.....		1440		0.	4.	0							0.	0.	2.$\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{36}}$
Farthings....		2880		0.	2.	0							0.	0.	1.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{36}}$
Shillings.....	} {	60	} {	4.	0.	0	} {	Fine Silver. alloy..... Stand–	220dwts . 20 240	} {	£03. s01. d5.q$\frac{\mathrm{16}}{\mathrm{37}}$	} {	s1.	d0.	q1.$\frac{\mathrm{9}}{\mathrm{60}}$	}	$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{0}}$ Queen Mary	} {	Thomas Egerton	}
Half-shillings..	} {	120	} {	2.	0.	0	} {	Fine Silver Alloy... Stand.	222dwts 18– –240–	} {	£3. s2. d0	} {	0.	6.	$\frac{\mathrm{24}}{\mathrm{120}}$	}	2° Queen Elizabeth	} {	Sir Thomas Standley & others in Commission
Groats .....		180		1.	8.	0							0.	4.	$\frac{\mathrm{16}}{\mathrm{120}}$
Quartershilling		240		1.	0.	0							0.	3.	$\frac{\mathrm{12}}{\mathrm{120}}$
Halfgroats.		360		0.	16.	0							0.	2.	$\frac{\mathrm{12}}{\mathrm{120}}$
Threehalfpenny ps.		480		0.	12.	0							0.	1.	$\frac{\mathrm{66}}{\mathrm{120}}$
Pence — —		720		0.	8.	0							0.	1.	$\frac{\mathrm{4}}{\mathrm{120}}$
Farthings....		2880		0.	2.	0							0.	0.	$\frac{\mathrm{31}}{\mathrm{120}}$

<26v>

[Editorial Note 3]

	Names of the Silver Coynes		Number of pieces in a Lib.		Weight of each Coyn.				Standard of the Coyns			Present Value of the £wt standard		present Value of each Coyn					Year of the Kings Reign		Names of the Masters & Workers of the Mint
					D.wts	g.rs	p.ts			dwts				s.	d.	q	pts.
{	Halfshilling~..	} {	120	} {	2.	0.	0	} {	Fine Silver.	222	} {	£3. s2. d0	} {	0.	6.	0.	$\frac{\mathrm{4}}{\mathrm{5}}$	} {	$\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{19}}$ Elizabeth~	} {	John Penison	}
	Threepences...		240		1.	0.	0.		Alloy ....	–18				0.	3.	0.	$\frac{\mathrm{4}}{\mathrm{10}}$
	Threehalfpences..		480		0.	12.	0.			—				0.	1.	2.	$\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{10}}$
	Three farthings...		960		0.	6.	0.		Standard...	240				0.	0.	3	$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{10}}$
} {	Crowns.....	} {	12 $\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{5}}$	} {	19.	8	$\frac{\mathrm{16}}{\mathrm{31}}$	} {	Ditto . . .		} {	Ditto —	} {	5.	0.	0		} {	$\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{43}}$ Elizabeth & 2°. King James 1st.	} {	Sir Richard Martyn &c.	}
	Halfcrowns...		24 $\frac{\mathrm{4}}{\mathrm{5}}$		9.	16.	$\frac{\mathrm{8}}{\mathrm{31}}$							2.	6.	0
	Shillings....		62 –		3.	20.	$\frac{\mathrm{28}}{\mathrm{31}}$							1.	0.	0
	Sixpences....		124		1.	22.	$\frac{\mathrm{14}}{\mathrm{31}}$							0.	6.	0
	Twopences....		372		0.	15.	$\frac{\mathrm{15}}{\mathrm{31}}$							0.	2.	0
	Pence.......		744		0.	7.	$\frac{\mathrm{23}}{\mathrm{31}}$							0.	1.	0
	Halfpence..		1488		0.	3.	$\frac{\mathrm{27}}{\mathrm{31}}$							0.	0.	2
M{illeg} (excepting halfpences {illeg} appointed to {illeg} Coyn'd by all the subsequent Indentures ic.
														s	d	q
{	Crowns....	} {	12 $\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{5}}$	} {	19.	8	$\frac{\mathrm{16}}{\mathrm{31}}$	} {	Ditto —		} {	Ditto	} {	5.	0.	0		} {	22 Charles 2d–	} {	Henry Slingsby. Esqr.	}
	Halfcrowns...		24 $\frac{\mathrm{4}}{\mathrm{5}}$		9.	16.	$\frac{\mathrm{8}}{\mathrm{31}}$							2.	6.	0
	Shillings....		62 m–		3.	20.	$\frac{\mathrm{28}}{\mathrm{31}}$							1.	0.	0			1 James 2—		Thomas Neale Esqr
	Halfshillings...		124 –		1.	22.	$\frac{\mathrm{14}}{\mathrm{31}}$							1.	0.	0
	Groats .....		186 –		1.	6.	$\frac{\mathrm{30}}{\mathrm{31}}$							0.	6.	0			1 William 3 –		Ditto —
	Halfsixpences..		248		0.	23.	$\frac{\mathrm{7}}{\mathrm{31}}$							0.	3.	0			12 William 3 —		Isaac Newton Esqr.
	Halfgroats....		372		0.	15.	$\frac{\mathrm{15}}{\mathrm{31}}$							0.	2.	0
	Pence....		744		0.	7.	$\frac{\mathrm{23}}{\mathrm{31}}$							0.	1.	0			1 Queen Ann–		Ditto.......
																					Mr. Conduit

<28r>

Tables of the Crobd Coins for the $\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{18}}$ Edward the Third to the present Queen

<28v>

[Editorial Note 4]

King's Reign.

Names of the Gold Coins

Number of pieces in 1 £wt.

Weight of each of the pieces~

Standard.

present Value per £wt.

present Value of each Coin

proportion in Value Current between Gold & Silver

Dwts

grs

pts

£

s

d

{

$\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{18}}$ Edward 3i.

} {

Florences...

} {

50

} {

4.

19.

$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{5}}$

} {

Fine Gold.dwts238. gr18

{

£

s

d

} {

01.

00.

09+

} {

Silver to Gold

}

Half-florences..

100

2.

9.

$\frac{\mathrm{6}}{\mathrm{10}}$

Alloy... –1.6

51:

18:

03$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$Scant

00.

10.

04$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$+

as 1. 10 13$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ fere~

Quarter florences

200

1.

4.

$\frac{\mathrm{8}}{\mathrm{10}}$

Stand. 240.00

00.

05.

02.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$+

{

Ditto

} {

Nobles....

} {

39$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

} {

6.

01.

$\frac{\mathrm{71}}{\mathrm{79}}$

} {

Ditto

} {

Ditto...

} {

01.

02.

02scant

} {

Ditto.....

} {

Half nobles

79

3.

00.

$\frac{\mathrm{75}}{\mathrm{79}}$

00.

13.

01–

Quarter nobles

158

1.

12.

$\frac{\mathrm{375}}{\mathrm{790}}$

00.

06.

6.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

{

20 Ditto

} {

Nobles.....

} {

42

} {

5.

17.

$\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{14}}$ –

} {

Ditto...

} {

Ditto....

} {

01.

04.

6.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$+

} {

as 1 to 12 fere

}

Half nobles

84

2.

20.

$\frac{\mathrm{8}}{\mathrm{14}}$ –

00.

13.

01–

Quarter nobles

168

1.

10.

$\frac{\mathrm{4}}{\mathrm{14}}$ –

00.

06.

6.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

{

27 Ditto & 30 27.46.—

} {

Ditto....

} {

.45

} {

5.

8.

0

} {

Ditto

} {

Ditto

} {

{

as 1 to 11 $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{6}}$

}

.90

2.

16.

0

180

1.

8.

0

{

18 Richard 1

} {

Ditto.....

} {

Ditto...

} {

Ditto ....

} {

Ditto...

} {

Ditto....

} {

Ditto..

} {

Ditto ~

}

{

9 Henry 5.

} {

Nobles.....

} {

50–

} {

4.

19.

$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{5}}$

} {

Fine Gold. d.wts328. grs.18.

} {

£

s

d

} {

01.

00.

09

} {

as 1 to 10$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Scant

}

Half-nobles...

100–

4.

9.

$\frac{\mathrm{6}}{\mathrm{10}}$

alloy....1. 6

51.

18.

03$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$scant

00.

10.

04$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

Quarter nobles .

200–

1.

4.

$\frac{\mathrm{8}}{\mathrm{10}}$

Stand. 240.00

00.

5.

02.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$

{

$\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{1.}}$ Henry 6.

} {

Rials........

} {

.45...

} {

5.

8.

0...

} {

Ditto....

} {

Ditto....

} {

01.

03.

0.$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{4}}$

} {

as 1 to 11$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{6}}$ fere

}

Half Rials.....

.90...

2.

16.

0...

00.

11.

06.$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{8}}$

Rial-farthings...

180..

1.

8.

0...

00.

05.

09.$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{16}}$

Angels......

.67$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$.

3.

13.

$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{3}}$...

00.

15.

04.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

Angellets.....

135..

1.

18.

$\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{3}}$...

00.

07.

08.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$

{

4 Henry 6

}

The same Coins

as in the

9 year of Henry

} 5th {

– – – –

} {

– – – –

{

£–

s–

d

} {

}

{

5. Edward 4.

} {

Nobles

} {

45

} {

5.

8.

0–

} {

Ditto....

} {

Ditto....

} {

01.

03.

00.$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{4}}$

} {

as 1 to 11$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{6}}$ fere–

}

Half-nobles

90

2.

16.

0–

00.

11.

06.$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{8}}$

Quarter nobles

180

1.

8.

0–

00.

05.

09.$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{16}}$

Angels

67$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

3.

13.

$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{3}}$–

00.

15.

04$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

{

1 Henry 8.

} {

Sovereigns.....

} {

24––

} {

10.

00.

00––

} {

} {

£

s

d

} {

02.

03.

03+

} {

Ditto ~

}

Rials........

48––

05.

00.

00––

Fine Gold. dwts238. gr18

01.

01.

07.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

Angels......

72––

03.

08.

00––

Assay.....1.6

00.

14.

05

George Nobles...

81––

02.

23.

0$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{9}}$––

—––

51.

18.

03.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$–

00.

12.

09.$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{4}}$

Half angels...

144––

01.

16.

00––

Stanard. 240.00

00.

07.

02.$\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{4}}$

Forty penny pieces

162––

01.

11.

$\frac{\mathrm{10}}{\mathrm{18}}$––

00.

06.

04.$\frac{\mathrm{7}}{\mathrm{8}}$

{

Ditto...

} {

Crowns-double rose

} {

100.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

} {

02.

09.

$\frac{\mathrm{63}}{\mathrm{201}}$

} {

Fine Gold. 222dwts} alloy... –20

} {

£

s

d

} {

00.

09.

06+

} {

Half crowns, ditto–

201–

01.

04.

$\frac{\mathrm{132}}{\mathrm{201}}$

Standard 240–

47.

16.

9

00.

04.

09+

<29v>

[Editorial Note 5]

King's Reigns.

Names of the Gold Coins

Number of pieces in 1 Lib.

Weight of each of the Coins

Standard.

present Value ofthe £wt. standard

present Value of each Coin.

proportion in Value Current between Gold & Silver

Dwts.

gr.

pts

dwts.

£

s

d

£

s

d

{

34 Henry 8

} {

Sovereigns..

} {

– – –

} {

} {

Fine Gold.

230

}

} {

50.

00.

03–

} {

..

.

.

} {

as 1 to 10$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ scant

}

Half-sovereigns

– – –

Alloy...

010

..

.

.

Angels....

– – –

–––

..

.

.

Angellets..

– – –

Standard...

240

–

..

.

.

{

36 Henry 8

} {

Sovereigns

} {

30–

} {

8.

0.

0–

} {

Fine Gold.

220dwts

}

} {

47.

16.

09

} {

01.

11.

10$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

} {

as 1 to 6$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{4}}$+

}

Halfsovereigns

60–

4.

0.

0–

Alloy...

–20

00.

15.

11.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$

Crowns–

120–

2.

0.

0–

–––

00.

07.

11$\frac{\mathrm{5}}{\mathrm{8}}$

Half-Crowns.

240–

1.

0.

0–

Standard...

240

00.

03.

11$\frac{\mathrm{13}}{\mathrm{16}}$

{

37 Henry 8

} {

Sovereigns

} {

30–

} {

Ditto...

} {

Fine Gold. Alloy....

200 .40

}

} {

43.

09.

09

} {

01.

08.

11$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

} {

as 1 to 4$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{4}}$ +

}

Half Sovereign

60–

Standard

240.

00.

14.

05$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$

{

1.

} Edward 6–

} {

Crowns —

} {

120–

} {

} {

Ditto

—

} {

Ditto

} {

00.

07.

02$\frac{\mathrm{5}}{\mathrm{8}}$

} {

.. Ditto . ...

}

2.

Half Crowns –

240–

0.

03.

07$\frac{\mathrm{5}}{\mathrm{16}}$

{

3 Edward 6

} {

Ditto....

} {

} {

} {

Fine Gold. Alloy...

220.20

}

} {

47.

16.

09

} {

} {

as 1 to 5$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{6}}$ fere

}

Standard

240

–

{

4.

} Edward 6–

} {

Ditto....

} {

} {

} {

Fine Gold. Alloy.....

238...1.

18 6.

} {

51.

18.

03$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

} {

} {

as 1 to 2 +

}

5.

Standard...

240.

00

{

$\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{6}}$ Edward 6.

} {

Sovereigns

} {

.24–

} {

{

10.

00.

00–

}

} {

{

Fine Gold.

238.

18

} {

51.

18.

03$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

} {

02.

03.

03

} {

{

as 1 to 11$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{8}}$

}

}

Angels.....

.72–

.3.

08.

00–

alloy....

––..1.

06

00.

14.

05

Half-angels...

144–

.1.

16.

00–

Standard..

240.

00

00.

07.

02$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

Sovereigns...

.33–

{

.7.

06.

$\frac{\mathrm{12}}{\mathrm{22}}$–

}

{

Fine Gold.

220–

}

{

47.

16.

09

}

01.

09.

00

{

as 1 to 11+

}

Half sovereigns...

.66–

.3.

15.

$\frac{\mathrm{6}}{\mathrm{22}}$–

Alloy..

..20

00.

14.

06

Crowns....

132–

.1.

19.

$\frac{\mathrm{14}}{\mathrm{22}}$–

—

00.

07.

03

Halfcrowns.

264–

.0.

21.

$\frac{\mathrm{18}}{\mathrm{22}}$–

Standard–

240

–

00.

03.

07$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

{

$\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{1}}$ Queen Mary

} {

The same

Gold Coins

as in the 6th

year of

King Edward

6th

–

–

} {

– – –

}

{

$\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Queen Elizabeth

} {

{

Sovereigns..

}

} {

{

24–

}

} {

{

10.

00.

00

}

} {

Fine Gold.

dwts238.18

}

} {

51.

18.

03$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

} {

{

02.

03.

03

} {

as 1 to 11.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{6}}$ fere

}

Rials....

48–

05.

00.

00

alloy.....

––..1.6

01.

01.

07$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

angels....

72–

03.

08.

00

Standard––

240

—

00.

10.

09$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{4}}$

Half angels

.33–

01.

16.

00

00.

05.

04$\frac{\mathrm{7}}{\mathrm{8}}$

{

Sovereigns.

}

{

33–

}

{

07.

16.

$\frac{\mathrm{12}}{\mathrm{22}}$–

}

{

Fine Gold.

220dwts

}

47.

16.

09

{

01.

09.

00

as 1 to 11.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{10}}$ fere

Half sovereigns

66–

03.

15.

$\frac{\mathrm{6}}{\mathrm{22}}$–

Alloy...

–20

00.

14.

06

Crowns....

132–

01.

19.

$\frac{\mathrm{14}}{\mathrm{22}}$–

—

00.

07.

03

Halfcrowns.

264–

00.

21.

$\frac{\mathrm{18}}{\mathrm{22}}$–

Standard

240

–

00.

03.

07$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

{

19

} Elizabeth–

} {

Angels – –

} {

72

} {

03.

08.

00

} {

Fine Gold.

238.18

}

} {

51.

18.

03$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

} {

00.

14.

05

} {

as 1 to 11$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{6}}$ fere

}

Half Angels

144

01.

16.

00

Alloy...

..1.6

00.

07.

02$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

25

Quarter Angels

288

00.

20.

00

Standard

240

–

00.

03.

07$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$

{

26 Elizabeth–

}

Double Nobles

} {

24–

} {

10.

00.

00

–

} {

Ditto ...

} {

Ditto ...

} {

02.

03.

03

} {

Ditto –––

}

Nobles– – –

48–

05.

00.

00

–

01.

01.

07$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

<30v>

[Editorial Note 6]

King's Reigns.

Names of the Gold Coins

Number of pieces in 1 £wt.

Weight of each of the Coins~

Standard.

present Value of the £wt.

present Value of each Coin.

Proportion in Value Current between Gold & Silver

dwts.

grs.

pts.

dwts

£

s

d

{

$\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{35}}$ Elizabeth....

} {

Sovereigns....

} {

.33–

} {

–7.

06.

$\frac{\mathrm{12}}{\mathrm{22}}$

} {

Fine Gold.

220

}

} {

£

s

d

} {

01.

09.

00

} {

as 1 to 11$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{10}}$ fere

}

Half sovereigns.....

.66–

–33.

15.

$\frac{\mathrm{6}}{\mathrm{22}}$

Alloy...

–20

47.

16.

09

00.

14.

06

Crowns .....

132–

–1.

19.

$\frac{\mathrm{14}}{\mathrm{22}}$

—

00.

07.

03

Half sovereigns.....

264–

–0.

21.

$\frac{\mathrm{18}}{\mathrm{22}}$

Standard

240–

00.

03.

07$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

{

$\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{43}}$. Elizabeth...

} {

Angels....

} {

.73–

} {

03.

06.

$\frac{\mathrm{66}}{\mathrm{73}}$

} {

Fine Gold.

238.

18

}

{

£

s

d

} {

00.

14.

02.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

}

as 1 to 11 —

}

Half angels.

146–

01.

15.

$\frac{\mathrm{33}}{\mathrm{73}}$

Assay...

001.

6

51.

18.

03$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

00.

07.

01.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$

Quarter angels.

292–

00.

19.

$\frac{\mathrm{53}}{\mathrm{73}}$

Stand.

240–

00.

03.

06.$\frac{\mathrm{5}}{\mathrm{8}}$

– – – –

– –

–

–

– –

–

–

– –

–

–

– –

Sovereigns.

{

.33$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$–

}

{

07.

03.

$\frac{\mathrm{63}}{\mathrm{67}}$

}

Fine Gold

220

}

{

47.

16.

09

} {

01.

08.

06.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

}

as 1 to 11 Scant

}

Half sovereigns

.67–

03.

13.

$\frac{\mathrm{65}}{\mathrm{67}}$

Alloy...

.20

00.

14.

03.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$

Crowns —

134–

01.

18.

$\frac{\mathrm{66}}{\mathrm{67}}$

Standard

240

00.

07.

01.$\frac{\mathrm{5}}{\mathrm{8}}$

Half Crowns –

268–

00.

21.

$\frac{\mathrm{33}}{\mathrm{67}}$

00.

03.

06.$\frac{\mathrm{13}}{\mathrm{16}}$

{

2 James 1st

} {

Unites–

} {

37$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{5}}$–

} {

06.

10.

$\frac{\mathrm{156}}{\mathrm{186}}$

} {

Ditto...

} {

£

s

d

} {

01.

05.

8$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

} {

as 1 to 12$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{7}}$ –

}

Double Crowns

74$\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{5}}$–

03.

05.

$\frac{\mathrm{78}}{\mathrm{186}}$

00.

12.

10$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$

Brittain Crowns

148$\frac{\mathrm{4}}{\mathrm{5}}$–

01.

14.

$\frac{\mathrm{132}}{\mathrm{186}}$

47.

16.

09

00.

6.

5$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{8}}$

Thistle Crowns–

186––

01.

06.

$\frac{\mathrm{180}}{\mathrm{186}}$

00.

5.

1$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

Halfcrowns–

297.$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{5}}$–

00.

19.

$\frac{\mathrm{66}}{\mathrm{186}}$

00.

3.

2$\frac{\mathrm{9}}{\mathrm{16}}$

{

3 James 1st

} {

Rose Rials

} {

27 —

} {

08.

21.

$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{3}}$–

} {

Fine Gold.

238dwts.

18grs

} {

£

s

d

} {

01.

18.

5$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

} {

as 1 to 12$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{6}}$ fere

}

Spur-Rials

54 —

04.

10.

$\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{3}}$–

Alloy.....

–1.

6

51.

18.

3$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

00.

19.

2$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{4}}$

Angels ...

81 —

02.

23.

$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{9}}$–

Standard.

240–

00.

12.

9$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{4}}$

{

9 James 1st

} {

Memorandum

a proclamation was issued at

{

this time to

}

{

Rais Gold 2s

} {

in the £ sterling

– – – – –

}

{

10 James 1st.

} {

Rose Rials––

} {

29$\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{3}}$

} {

8.

02.

$\frac{\mathrm{14}}{\mathrm{89}}$

} {

{

Ditto–

} {

Ditto–––

} {

01.

15.

00

} {

as 1 to 13$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{5}}$ fere

}

Spur Rials – –

59.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{3}}$

04.

01.

$\frac{\mathrm{7}}{\mathrm{89}}$

00.

17.

06

Angels ....

89–

02.

16.

$\frac{\mathrm{64}}{\mathrm{89}}$

00.

11.

08

– – –

– –

—

—

—

—

dwts

Unites ––––

37.$\frac{\mathrm{13}}{\mathrm{66}}$

06.

10.

00

}

parts near the same as in the 2 James First

Fine Gold

220

} {

£

s

d

} {

01.

5.

08$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

} {

as 1 to 13$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{3}}$ fere

}

Double Crowns–

74.$\frac{\mathrm{26}}{\mathrm{66}}$

03.

05.

00

Alloy...

–20

00.

12.

10.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$

Brittish Crowns–

148.$\frac{\mathrm{52}}{\mathrm{66}}$

01.

14.

00

—

47.

16.

09

00.

06.

5$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{8}}$

Thistle Crowns–

186.$\frac{\mathrm{34}}{\mathrm{211}}$

01.

06.

00

Stand.

240.

00.

05.

1.$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ Brittish Crowns

297.$\frac{\mathrm{59}}{\mathrm{66}}$

00.

19.

00

00.

03.

2$\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{16}}$

{

2 Charles 1st

} {

Rose Rials–

} {

29 $\frac{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{3}}$

} {

08.

02.

$\frac{\mathrm{14}}{\mathrm{89}}$

} {

Fine Gold.

dwts238.

grs18

} {

£

s

d

} {

01.

15.

00

} {

as 1 to 13$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{3}}$ +

}

Spur Rials–

59. $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{3}}$

04.

01.

$\frac{\mathrm{7}}{\mathrm{89}}$

Alloy...

..1.

6

51.

18.

03$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

00.

17.

06

Angels – –

89 —

02.

16.

$\frac{\mathrm{64}}{\mathrm{89}}$

Standard–

240–

00.

11.

08

{

12 Charles 1st

} {

Unites —

} {

41 —

} {

05.

02.

$\frac{\mathrm{20}}{\mathrm{41}}$

} {

Fine Gold.

220dwts

}

} {

£

s

d

} {

01.

03.

04

} {

Ditto – – –

}

Double Crowns

82 —

02.

01.

$\frac{\mathrm{10}}{\mathrm{41}}$

Alloy..

–20

47.

16.

09$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

00.

11.

08

Brittish Crowns

164 —

01.

16.

$\frac{\mathrm{5}}{\mathrm{41}}$

Standard–

240–

00.

05.

10

{

$\frac{\mathrm{0}}{\mathrm{22}}$ Charles 2d.

} {

5 pound, or 5 Guinea piece

} {

–8. $\frac{\mathrm{9}}{\mathrm{10}}$

} {

27

06.

$\frac{\mathrm{6}}{\mathrm{11}}$

} {

Fine Gold.

220dwts

}

} {

£

} {

05.

00.

00

} {

as 1 to 14$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ fere

}

40s, or double Guinea piece

22. $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{4}}$

10.

21.

$\frac{\mathrm{9}}{\mathrm{11}}$

Alloy..

–20

47.

16.

09

02.

00.

00

20s. or Guinea -piece

44. $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$

05.

09.

$\frac{\mathrm{39}}{\mathrm{89}}$

—

01.

00.

00

10s. or Half Guinea

89 —

02.

16.

$\frac{\mathrm{64}}{\mathrm{89}}$

Standard–

240–

00.

10.

00

{

1 James. 2d 1 William & Mary 8. William 3 – 12. Ditto —

} {

Ditto–––

} {

Ditto–

} {

Ditto – –

} {

Ditto – –

} {

Ditto – –

} {

Ditto.

} {

Ditto–––

}

N.B. the proportion between Gold, at £1. s1. d6 per guinea, & silver; is as 1. to 15$\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ +

N.B. The proportion between Gold & Silver when Guineas are Current at 30s. was as 1 to 21$\frac{\mathrm{3}}{\mathrm{4}}$, which is $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{3}}$ higher than Gold was ever valued in any of the Reigns mentioned in these Tables

<32r>

From the foregoing Tables 'tis observable, that the names of the silver coins in former Reigns, were for the most part different, from those wee have for our present monys, and all our Gold coins have new names since the Restauration. Silver groats and $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$ groats are as old as Edwd. 3d. and pence as old as the Roman Government in England. Variety of names however creats difficultys in the tale and perplexity's in Accounts: and it were much better that the pieces had their names from their weight, and did pass by weight in all Receipts and payments as all mony does in Ireland; which would effectually prevent the currency of all pieces clip't, or any ways diminish'd. The pound weight of gold and silver too have been cutt into more or fewer pieces, at the pleasure of the severall Kings: and the particular weight of the respective species are extreamly fractional, to which the Individual pieces were never adjusted, and hardly could by the nicest sizing; consequently the standard weight of 'em could not be strictly examin'd.

The standard or mixture of pure gold and silver with their respective alloys, established by authority, has been subject to alteration: the silver was much debas'd in the reigns of Henry the 8 & Edward the 6. The Gold for many ages was finer, than the present standard, <32v> but never coarser, the most usuall standard being 238d.wt 18 grains of fine gold and but 1.dwt 6 grains of alloy, which is so inconsiderable that the coins, like those of some Eastern Princes, were almost of pure gold, none of which are now extant but in collections. The Silver was never finer than the present standard, which is the same with that in the time of Edward the first.

The silver coins can have been very small in some reigns as appears by their weights and names, which shews that the metall was Scarser and dearer than now it is; for which reason it was coin'd in such smaller proportions, to make it a more general Medium of Trade. Since the discovery of the Mines in the west-Indies, silver has grown plentyer and cheaper, and our coins have been made weightier, in so much that a Crown piece has six time more silver in it than the heaviest silver coin of Edward 3d.

The smallest silver coin heretofore weight but 2.grs $\frac{\mathrm{1}}{\mathrm{2}}$; and the smallest piece now coyn'd weigh's 7.grains $\frac{\mathrm{23}}{\mathrm{31}}$ which is above 3 times as much.

The species in no reign were as many as now: perhaps fewer sorts on mony would be better: The Crown pieces being lyable to plated, and the coins smaller than <33r> a six pence to be lost.

If our silver and gold coins were only the ten penny, the five penny, & the 60 grains piecex[37], no light pieces could pass; the people would be accustom'd to weighing their mony, and great summs would soon be dispatch'd in payments by weight.

The value of gold and silver in former Reigns, what over the names of the Coins might be, was much higher than 'tis now; a greater plenty of both metalls having made 'em cheaper in the two last Centurys.

The Proportional value between Gold and Silver has vary'd somewhat in every reign, in proportion to the plenty or scarcity of either mettall in this kingdom: at present Gold is at a higher proportionate value to silver in England, and all this part of Europe too, than it has been for neer 2000 years past; and when Guineas pass'd at 30s. a piece, that value was neer double the proportion gold held to silver, during the Grecian and Roman Monarchys.