111-16)

Author: Isaac Newton

Source: MINT 19/2/38, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

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- 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
  - 17 October 2019
    - Transcribed by Kees-Jan Schilt
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Related Texts
- This document is a version of:
  Response to an order to report on gold and silver coin in Britain [MINT 19/2/111-16]

<38r>

S^r

I have enquired the weight & fineness of the coynes mentioned in your letter & they are as follows. The Holland Ducat is 23^car 2^gr five\1 car ij^gr better then standard/ & weight|s| 2^dwt 4^gr The Three Guilder pieces is worse \10^oz 18^dwt/ 4^dwt \worse/ & weighs 20^dwt 6^gr The Spanish Pistoll is $\frac{1}{4}$ ^{{illeg} legr} worse & weighs 4^dwt 8^gr The Pieces of Eight weigh 17^dwt 12^gr each, & the Pillar Piece is 2^dwt better the Mexican 1^dwt worse & the Pruvian 16^dwt worse A French Lewis d'Or weighs 4^dwt 8^gr & is worse $\frac{1}{4}$ ^legr A French Crown weighs 17^dwt 12^gr & is worse ob^dwt The Cross Dollar weighs 18^dwt & is wors 12 $\frac{1}{2}$ ^dwt worse. A Jacobus \& Carolus/ piece coyned for XX^s is y^e 41^th part of a pound weight Troy, & a Carolus XX^s piece is of the same weight\& therefore weighs 14 0 $\frac{1}{2}$ ^gr {illeg}7^dwt & about $\frac{1}{2}$ a grain/ But a broad Jacobus is about y^e 38^th part of a pound weight Troy.

\{illeg}/ The whole{illeg} number of Guineas coyned in the reigns of K. Charles K James & K William to the present time is The pr value of Gold in all these reigns has been \has been/ \{illeg}/ greater here then in Holland in all these three reigns w^ch has made & accordingly thence the coynage of gold monies th coyned in y^e reigns of King Charlle|es| & King James were almost double to the silver monies coyned in the same reigns. And now Gold being at a higher value then in those reigns is coyned the only metal brought into y^e Mint from abroad. The exchange in Holland is at p^resent about 5 ꝑ cent for Bank money & 1 $\frac{1}{4}$ more for Gold Guineas that is about 6 $\frac{1}{4}$ or 6 $\frac{1}{2}$ ꝑ cent for Guines, so that a Guineas|s| in|s| Holland are worth but 2 {illeg}\about/ 1lb. 0^s 8^d of \o^er/ milled silver monies.

The importation of silver is discourged {sic} not only by its low price in proportion to gold but also by the Laws w^ch make\against exportation of Silver Bullion/ the Merchant being unwilling to bring it on shore by reson of the difficulty they meet w^th in going off w^th it again in case they meet not with a good Mercat here.