274)

Author: Isaac Newton

Source: MINT 19/1/242, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

Additional Information
- Notes on the Electronic Edition
  - You are currently reading the normalized version of this text. Normalized transcriptions provide a tidied-up view of the original text. Editorial interventions are applied to expand abbreviations and correct textual mistakes. Additions are silently included within the body text and deleted text is not displayed. Switching to the diplomatic view of this text will show 47 deletions, reveal 44 additions and not apply 7 editorial regularizations.
- Revision History
  - 1 January 2001
    - Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young
  - 29 September 2011
    - Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins
  - 23 January 2017
    - Transcribed by Will Scott
- Download MINT00176.xml and schema (advanced users only)
Related Texts
- This document is a version of:
  Holograph queries about standards of trial plates [MINT 19/1/274]

<242r>

The fineness of gold & silver is generally estimated by the assay & bought & sold by this estimate, & gold 24 carats fine & silver 12 ounces fine is reputed by Assaymasters fully fine. And Trial pieces by law are to be 22 carats fine Gold & two carats of allay & 11 ounces 2^dwt of fine silver, & 18^dwt of allay

Quære 2 Whether for this end her Majesty may appoint and trial pieces to be made of such fine gold as proves just 24 carats fine upon the assay, & such fine silver as proves just 12 ouncs fine upon the assay, notwithstanding that gold & silver may by any new art be refined to an higher degree? Or what is the standard of fine gold & fine silver according to law?

Quære 4 Whether for keeping constantly to a standard her Majesty may direct that a piece of the fine gold & a piece of the fine silver of which the next trial pieces shall be made be kept in the Exchequer for determining with more exactness the fineness of the fine gold & fine silver of which all trial pieces shall be made for the future.

Qaære 1. Whether there should be one common standard of fine gold & one of fine silver in all great Britain for setting a value upon all gold & silver in buying & selling in coining of money & in making of plate & other gold & silver wares.

Quære 3 Whether a Iury appointed to make Indented standard trial pieces is not bound to make them of such fine gold & such fine silver as is fine gold & fine silver according to law even without her Majestys special direction & notwithstanding that gold or silver may by any new art be refined to an higher degree?