On the value of the Imperial dollar and uncertainty as to whether the term refers to the common dollar or the Rix dollar (Reichsthaler), which is worth more

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To the Right Honorable the Lords Commissioners of His Majesties Treasury.

May it please yo^er Lordships

In obedience to yo^er Lordships Order of Reference signified to me by M^r Tilson's Letter of the 5^t Instant, that I should report the value of Imperial Dollars both intrinsecally & by way of Exchange with Sweden: I humbly represent that 16 Gute Grosh or 24 Marien Grosh make the Gulde or Guilder & that the Gulde by the weight & assay is worth 2^s 4^d & is usually marked $\frac{2}{3}$ to signify that it is two thirds of the common Dollar of the Empire. This Dollar therefore is 36 Marien Grosh or 3^s 6^d in value. The Rix Dollar hath been coined by some Princes of the Empire worth two Gulden or 48 Marien Groshes but is usually coined of less value by one or two Marien Groshes & accordingly the Rix Dollars of the late Emperors pass among the Iews for only 47 or 46 Marien Grosh. The Rix Dollars of Collen & Liege are worth 4^s 4$\frac{1}{2}$^d the one of Hamburg was worth 4^s 7^d The difficulty is to know whether by the Imperial Dollar, is meant the Common Dollar or the Rix Dollar & what Rix Dollar. // If any payments of Imperial Dollars have been made to Sweden since the Treaty of $\frac{6}{16}$ Jan. 1700, the precedent is to be followed as the best interpreter of the Treaty. If none, then the best reason that I can meet with for determining this question is to consider that as in payments by pounds sterling in England the pound signifies not a coun but a certain value in current money, so in payments by Imperial Dollars between England & Sweden, the Imperial Dollar should be taken not for a specie Dollar which varies in goodness but for a certain value And such is the common Dollar of Germany, the same being not a specie Dollar but 36 Marien Grosh which is a certain value equal to 42 pence; whereas the Rix Dollar goes at several rates in Germany accordingly as is is coined of several values by several Princes of the Empire But if this is not sufficient to determin the Question, it may depend upon criticisms in the German language of which I am not master as for instance by deriving the name Imperial Dollar from the word Reichs Thaler

Exchanges with London at present are almost at a par. Between London & Hamburgh the allowance for exchange on Friday last was 1$\frac{1}{2}$ per cent. But the exchange rises & falls daily. How it is between London & Stockholm I do not find in the Tables of Exchange.

All which is most humbly submitted to yo^er Lordships great wisdome

Mint Office Apr. 11^th. 1720.                          Is. Newton.

In the weekly Tables of Exchange between London & Hamburgh, the number set down over against Hamburgh signifies the number of Bank schillings & deneirs to be received or paid at Hamburgh for one pound sterling at London & 35$\frac{5}{9}$ schillings is at a part with 1^£ sterling.

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The specie Rix Dollars are coined of several values by several Princes of the Empire & are worth from 4^s 4$\frac{1}{2}$^d to 4^s 8^d. But in Booke of Exchange the Rix Dollar is valued at 48 schelling Lubs of Hāmburgh, at 48 styvers of Antwerp at 50 styvers of Amsterdam & at 4^s 6^d English. Thre is also a common Dollar of the Empire in respect of which the Gulde or Guilder is usually marked $\frac{2}{3}$ to signify that it is two thirds of this Dollar. The Gulde is 24 Marien Grosch, the Common Dollar 36 Marien Grosch & the Rix Dollar 48 Marien Grosh, so that the common Dollar is $\frac{3}{4}$ of the Rix Dollar. The difficulty is to know whether by the Imperial Dollar be meant the Common Dollar or the Rix Dollar.

If any payment have been made to Sueden sonce the Treaty of $\frac{6}{16}$ Jan 1700, the precedent is to be followed as the best interpreter of the Treaty. If none, I am told that the Imperial Dollar is sometimes taken for the common Dollar, but more usually for the Rix Dollar & that the word Reichs or Rycks-Thaler signifies imperial Dollar. But I am not skilled in the German Language.

In the weekly Tables of exchange with London, the number set over against Hamborough signifies the number of Bank schillings & derniers to be received & paid at Hamburgh for one pound sterling at London: & 35$\frac{5}{9}$ schillings is at a part with one pound sterling. How the Exchange is between London & Stockholm I do not find in the Tables of Exchange But the money by the treaty is to be paid at London to the order of the Queen or King of Sweden. He is to receive at London 288000 Imperial DOllers & if these be Rix Dollars they amount unto 64800 pounds Sterling.

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S^r Is. Newton's Report about Imperial Dollars