'Experiments and Observations about the value of forreign coyns' [in fact entirely about French ones]: notes on denominations, French Mint practice, and rate of wear of coin

<134r>

Experimen{illeg}|t|s \& Observations/ about the values of forregin coyns.

Of French coyns.

The French money is Lewidors double, single & half {illeg} & quarter & the silver Lewis Ecu Doller or Crown, the half crown the quarter crown or Cardecu the 12^th part of the crown or Reau & the piece of 3$\frac{1}{2}$ sous or         . By many assays of Pistoles they were found some $\frac{3}{4}$ legr. worse then stan. more of them $\frac{1}{4}$ legr. worse, none standard most of them $\frac{1}{2}$ legr. worse. One w^th another they were a{illeg}|b|out $\frac{4}{9}$ legr. worse & weight 4^dwt 7$\frac{1}{8}$^gr. Double Pistoles new out of the Mint weight 8^dwt 16^gr, & single ones 4^dwt. 8^gr. In round recconinng {sic} we may put Pistoles $\frac{1}{2}$ legr. wors & {illeg}|w|eight 4^dwt 8^gr new coynd, 4^dwt 7^gr commonly current & lightned by wearing. When new coyned they are well\equally/ sized & assayed but in 20 or {illeg}|25| years lose a grain by wearing. Some weigh but 4^dwt 6^gr some \few/ 4^dwt 5^gr or less. The double \French/ Pistoles are generally heavier then two single ones, being less worse

Silver Lewises new out of the Mint weigh one with another \about/ 17^dwt 13$\frac{1}{4}$^gr or thereabouts, but in every six or seven years wearing lose a grain more or less. They are less equally sized then & allayed then the gold. \They size th{i}|e|s Lewidors to half a grain their silver Lewises to 1$\frac{1}{2}$ gr./ The assays of tenn pieces were as follows. One coyned 1651 worse 2$\frac{1}{2}$^dwt, another 1675 better 1$\frac{1}{2}$^dwt, another 1680 sta. another 1682 better {illeg}|2|^dwt. another 1687 sta. another \coynd/ 1690, restampt 1694 worse 1^dwt. A 7^th 8^th 9^th & 10^thsta. sta. {sic} better 1^dwt, worse 8^dwt. One w^th another they were worse {illeg}$\frac{7}{10}$^dwt. But if the last be omitted they were one with another better $\frac{1}{9}$^dwt. |These te{illeg}|nn| pieces & two others weighed one with another|
    The French standard is 11 ounces fine & one ounce of allay both for gold & silver They at a Marc into 36$\frac{1}{4}$ Pistoles 17^dwt 1{illeg}|0|^gr. The eight heaviest of them weighed \one w^th another/ 17^dwt 12^gr, The two heaviest 17^dwt 13$\frac{1}{4}$^gr, The two lightest 17^dwt 3$\frac{1}{2}$^gr being lightned by earing. Among the eight heaviest were the five dated three next 17^dwt 12$\frac{1}{4}$^gr. The three next 17^dwt 10$\frac{3}{4}$. The two next 17^dwt 7$\frac{1}{2}$^gr & the two lightest 17^dwt 3$\frac{5}{8}$, {illeg}|be|ing lightned by wearing. Of the eight heaviest five were coyne{illeg}|d| 1651, 1679, 1680, 1682, 1687. The other seven were coyned before 1694 & then restampt.

The French standard is 11 ounces fine & one ounce of Allay for both gold & silver. And they cut a Mark into 36$\frac{1}{4}$ Lewidors & 8$\frac{11}{12}$ silver Lewises A Mark is 8 ounces & an ounce is 8 Gross, 1|2|4 Deniers, 20 Esterlings, 40 Maill{es} |\{8}/80 Felins| & {80}\576/ grains, & a Denier is 24 grains. A Mark \French/ is 7 ounces 17 penny weight & 9 grains Troy \& an ounce is 472$\frac{1}{8}$ grains Troy/ & an ounce French is to an ounce Troy & a Mark French to eight ounces Troy as 60 to 61. The remedy for in weight for gold monies in France is two Felins or 11$\frac{4}{5}$ grains English & the remedy for silver monies is the twelft part of a silver Lewis or 35$\frac{32}{107}$^gr english. And they make their money lighter \in the Mark/ then the just weight by above half the remedy, |v|{as}|is||^t by| about $\frac{3}{5}$^ts of y^e Remedy {illeg}|th|at is by about 7 grains Troy of gold & 21 grain{illeg}|s| Troy of silver in the Mark. So that 36$\frac{1}{4}$ Lewidors + 7^gr & 8$\frac{11}{12}$ Lewises + 21 grains is the Mark French. The Remedy of Allay is in gold monies $\frac{1}{4}$^th of a carat, \or One grain/ or $\frac{1}{96}$ of the whole weight, that is one grain, & in silver monies {illeg}|t|wo deniers per ounce or the 144^th part of the whole, that is $\frac{2}{3}$^ds of the remedy for gold. {illeg} Their Remedy is only in defect of weight & fines|n|ess. If their money be too heavi|y|er {sic} or finer then the standard they \Masters of their Mints/ lose the excess, if {it} lighter or coarser & yet within the Remedy th{illeg}|ey| are at the Kings mercy. They make their gold coarser then standard by about $\frac{1}{2}$ or $\frac{2}{3}$ of the Remedy: but their silver Assays being less certain & yet the Remedy {illeg}|sc|anter they make their \silver/ money one piece w^th another finer then their standard chusing rather to lose by the fineness then hazzard being without the Remedy. And its observable aslo that o^r Assays in the T{illeg}|o|wer make the gold & silver of Importers <134v> which is worse then standard to be at least $\frac{1}{4}$^dwt better then they are.

Lewidors new coyned are \in value/ to Guineas of due weight & allay as 4 to 5 & for every half grain that a Lewidor is lighter then 4^dwt 8^gr a penny must be deducted from its value.

Ecus new coyned are worth 4^s 6^d$\frac{1}{5}$ of good standard money, & for every two grains by w^ch the Ecu is grown by wearing grown lighter then 17^dwt 13$\frac{1}{4}$^gr must be abated one farthing.

In French Flanders are coyned pieces of 4 Livers, 2 Li{illeg}|v|res, one Livre, half Livres & quarter livres. A two livre piece coyned 1687 w^th this inscription about the head Lud. XIIII D.G. Fr. et Narav. Rex & on the Reverse about the French arms quartered w^th a crown on the Escutcheon, Sit normen domini benedictum 1687 & edged w^th Domine salvum fac Regem Christianissimum, weighed 12^dwt 0$\frac{1}{6}$^gr. Another of the same date a little more worn weighed 12^dwt –$\frac{1}{4}$^gr.

In exchange a Pistole \& two pence/ is to a guinea {illeg} penny\two pence {illeg}/ as {illeg}|4| {illeg}|to| {illeg}|5|.

The assays of 15 Lewid'ors were as follows. worse $\frac{1}{4}$, $\frac{3}{4}$, $\frac{5}{8}$, $\frac{1}{4}$ full, 1$\frac{3}{4}$ scant, $\frac{1}{4}$, $\frac{1}{2}${,} 1$\frac{1}{2}$, $\frac{1}{2}$, $\frac{3}{4}$ full, $\frac{1}{2}$ scant, $\frac{3}{4}$, $\frac{3}{4}$, $\frac{3}{4}$^legr W^ch is one w^th another $\frac{2}{3}$ legr. worse. In the books of the Mint Ingots melted out of Pistoles generally run $\frac{1}{2}$^legr worse. Some few Ingots (scarce one in twelve) are $\frac{1}{4}$ or $\frac{3}{4}$^legr worse & more are $\frac{3}{4}$ worse $\frac{1}{4}$ worse: so that they ma{y} be recconed {illeg} $\frac{51}{100}$^legr worse.