"Report of the Assays of Spanish Pieces"

<54r> ^[1]

Letter from the Master and Worker of the

Mint to M^r. Chancellour concerning the

Value of Spanish Money

Mint Office Ian^ry. 16^th. 171$\frac{2}{3}$

Sir

Our Assay Master being out of Town and his Clerk Sick in bed I got the Two Spanish Pieces Assayed at Goldsmith's Hall The Piece of King Charles weighed 3 dead weight 12^gr. and in fineness was four Penny Weight worse then Standard, The Value thereof in English Money is 10^d. & $\frac{3}{5}$^ths. of a Penny The Piece of King Philip weighed 4^dwt.. $\frac{1}{4}$ grain and was One Ounce Two Penny Weight worse then Standard and in Value 11^d half Penny English They seem to be Quarter Pieces of Eight of the New Species and in the nearest Round Numbers, Five of them may be reckon'd worth a Mexico or Pillar Piece of Eight If I had had Two or Three More of each sort I could have made a better Iudgement of them, but by the best Iudgement I can make of these Two only it seems to Me that they may be diminished in Value of One Fift Part or in the Proportion of five to four. I am

Sir

Your most Obedient and

most Humble Servant

Is. Newton

<55v>

Report of the Ass{ays} of Spanish pieces

57

Report {of the} Officers {of the} Mint