Copy of letter suggesting standards for the Mint in Scotland and in the Tower

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To the Right Honourable the Earle of Godolphin Lord High Treasurer

May it please your Lordship

In obedience to your Lordships Order on Saturday Last that we should lay before your Lordship what we think proper to be done for setting on foot with all convenient speed the Coynage in the Mint at Edinburgh & for trying the Pix of that Mint before Her Majesties Council of Scotland: We humbly represent that in Conformity to the Act of Vnion We conceive there should be made by a jury of Goldsmiths seven Indented Trial-pieces of Crown Gold & seven of standard silver; two of Each metal to be kept in the two Treasurys to try the pieces of the two Mints. two of each for the Wardens of the two Mints to try the Moneys before delivery & to decide Questions between the Master & Importer about the fineness of Bullion; two of each for the Masters of the two Mints to make the Moneys by & one of each for the Wardens & Company of Goldsmiths to try theire Plate & other manufactures of Gold & Silver & also that a pile of standard Troy Weights be made by the Deputy Chamberlaines of the Exchequer for the Treasury of Scotland & two other Piles by the Warden of this Mint in the presence of the other Officers thereof in such manner that the smaller weights be in a proportion to the greater as the Indenture of the Mint directs; & that all these Piles be printed like the Weights sent to the Corporations, & one of the two Piles be delivered to your Lordships order for the Mint in Scotland.

And We are further humbly of Opinion that untill an Indenture can be drawn up between Her Majesti & the Master of the Mint at Edinburgh prescribing the Duty of every Officer in particular, the Coynage may be there set on fot by Her Majesties Warrant directed to the Generall & other Officers of that Mint, with a Copy of the present Indenture of the Mint in the Tower annexed to it authoriseing & requiring them to Act under the rules there set down which rotate to theire severall Offices & particularly. That the Master Coyn all the Moneys of the Weight & Fineness & within the Remedys there appointed & take care that the several pieces be not lighter then theire Counterpoise & that the Warden & Counter Warden survey & charge the proceedings of all the other Officers & minuters, & see that the Moneys be well & duly Coyned in all respects & an exact account kept of the Dyes & Puncheons

And We humbly conceive another Warrant if Her Majestie pleases may be directed to the Master of that Mint nameing the species to be Coyned by him & requireing him to Coyn one tenth part of the silver into sixpences & four tenths into shillings & 3 tenths into half Crowns & the rest into Crown pieces as was done in the Late recoynage in England & authoriseing him to comand the Graver to make puncheons & Dyes for Coyning the said Moneys of the very same forme with the Money Coyned in the Tower of London & to use such Master Puncheons as shall be sent him from the Tower for makeing the Moneys of both Mints perfectly alike untill the Puncheons made by himself shall be approved by the Officers of that Mint, & to sett the Letter E (the first Letter of the name of the City of Edinburgh) under Her Majesties Effigies as in the Specimens of Dyes which will be sent him from the Tower that the Moneys of the two Mints may be thereby distinguished.

All which is most humbly submitted to your Lordships great wisdom

Mint Office
Iune the 2d: 1707