Petitions for a licence to coin £180,000 in copper and criticises Newton's specimen copper coins as being made of inferior copper and given a high artificial gloss which will soon wear off

Author: James Bertie

Source: MINT 19/2/385-6, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

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  - 1 January 2001
    - Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young
  - 29 September 2011
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  - 13 March 2017
    - Transcribed by Will Scott
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<385r>

4^th: Mar: 171 $\frac{3}{4}$

My Lord

When I was last w^th: y^r: L^sp:, after y^e: Officers of the mint were heard y^r: stay was so short, that I had not an opportunity of mentioning some observations I then made on what passed. I observed y^r: L^sp: did not expect or any one offer to cut a pound of copper into less than 21^d of half pence & farthings, or to make them of better metal than fine malleable copper, nor yet to do it on those terms unless y^e: Publick would be at the charge of y^e: wear & tear of Tools, w^ch: charge by my proposalls will be sav'd; so taht I think nothing hath been offerd hitherto so advantageous to y^e Publick. As to y^e: impression, or stamp, I have propos'd it shall be such as y^r: L^sp: shall approve of; Therefore if you have no objection to y^e: weight nor standard of y^e: metal, y^r: L^sp: is sure to have a good impression, because I am not to proceed in coining 'till I have produc'd such a Die as shall be approv'd by yourself. I beg leave to observe y^t: the specimens produc'd by S^r: I: Newton are not fine malleable copper, & have an artificial Gloss w^ch: will soo wear off, & then will look like those coyn'd in K: Williams Reign.

M^r: Peyton produced one of piece w^ch: he call'd fine plate Copper & said that could not be coin'd at less than 23^d ꝑ pound I am contented his specimen shall be my standard, and do not desire a greater profit than will acrue from 21^d a pound, but i y^r: L^sp: think|s| fir \to allow/ 23^d, the difference w^ch: is 2^d. in the quantity propos'd, will be between 18, and 20,000^li, w^ch: your L^sp: may dispose of as you shall think fit. I have some objections <386r> to putting the Queens arms on the reverse as in other coin w^ch: I think unanswerable, & shall be glad to communicate to your L^sp: whenever you will give me leave to wait on you.

Had I heard any proposalls more advantageous to the publick than mine, I should have forborn giving y^r: L^sp: any farther trouble, but since n'one are yet made of equall advantage, I hope y^r: L^sp: will interceed w^th: Her Majesty in favour of him who has always been

Your Lordships

Most Obedient Servant

Ia: Bertie

<386v>

Copper {illeg}

M^r Bertie:

By mare: 4: 17 $\frac{13}{14}$

{illeg}

10 Mar 17 $\frac{13}{14}$
To Off^rs: Mint