306)

Author: Isaac Newton

Source: MINT 19/2/438, 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
  - 31 October 2016
    - Transcribed by Will Scott finished transcription
  - 31 October 2016
    - Will Scott changed reference to draft recommendation of Charles Brattell from Mint 19/2/431 to Mint 19/2/432
  - 13 January 2017
    - Checked by Will Scott
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Related Texts
- This document is a version of:
  Response to John Pery's [Perry's] application to coin copper [MINT 19/2/306]

<438r>

To the R^t\most/ Hon^ble the Lord H. Eal|r|l of Oxford & Earl Mortimer, L^d H. Treasurer of great Britain.

May it please yo^r Lord^p

In obedience to yo^r Lord^ps Order of Reference upon the Petitions of Iohn Pery & others for supplying the Mint with either Bla{illeg}|nc|ks or Plates of fine copper to be coined into half pence & farthings, We humbly represent that copper money is at present very little wanted, but if it shall be thought fit to put the coinage of such money into a standing method, We are humbly of opinion

That the whole coinage of such money including the making of the blanks, be done in the Mint it being unsafe to have coina|i|ng Tools & coinage abroad

That it be done of the cheapest fine copper w^ch will hammer when red hot & is worth about 11^d or 12^d p{illeg}|er| {illeg}|po|und weight. In finer copper & dearer copper we may deceived there being no certain test of the higher degrees of fineness, & the{i}|{e}|{s} great price will tempt fals coiners to counterfeit it.|{the}| |money.|

That it be done out of copper either hammered into plates at the copper mills or cast into barrs or fillets at the Mint w^th an addition of two or three ounces of Tinn to an hundred weight of copper in fusion to make the metal runn close. The last way \is most conformable to the Coinage of Gold & Silver &/ is cheapest by 2^d in the pound weight|,| & |is| there|fore| to be preferred. For there will be least got by counterfeiting that money whose workmanship i{t}|s| cheapest.

That this money may be edged with such an edging as may be fittest to prevent counterfeiting by casting.

That the stamp for avoiding frequent trouble to y^e Queen & Council in altering it, remain one & the same \as in the moneys of gold & silver/ unless it shall be thought fit at any time upon any extraordinary occasion \by Order of Councill/ to alter it

That an Importer be appointed to buy & import the copper the copper by weight & receive it|\the \new/ money/| back by weight {illeg}|&| assay tale & put the same away. And that the Master & Worker for the time being, be charged & discharged by his Note as in the coinage of gold & silver, & be allowed a weigher & teller for weighing the copper & telling the money between him & the Im{illeg}|p|orter & entring all receipts & paym^ts. And that if the copper prove not good upon the assay the Master have power to refuse it. |And that a person| <438v> |be appointed to survey the meltings & the whole coinage|

That all the charge of copper, coining tools, coinage wages & incidents be paid out of the profits of the coinage, & that there be no & that there be no standing\perpetual/ salaries to increase the extrinsic value of the moneys. And that y^e Accountant be either y^e Importer or the Master & |be| allowed for his trouble hazzards & charges in cashkeeping & accounting.\be Accounted & be allowed/ for the same.

That a coinage of about 20 or 30 Tunns once in three or four years or of 50 Tunns once in six or eight years is sufficient for supplying the dayly loss & wast of the moneys already coined, & may prove too much if the counterfeiting of this money encreases. And that a coinage of about twenty or 30 tunns thirty or at the most 50 Tunns is abundantly sufficient at present.

That a coinage of such money from time to time may be performed by one & th{illeg}|e|{illeg} same standing Commission, & y^t it be in the power of the Lord H. Treasurer or L^ds Comm^rs of y^t Treary for the time being to \appoint/ by a particular warrant. {sic} the quantity of copper mony to be coined at the same\any/ time: w^ch quantity should never be so great as to endanger any clamour.

And that the Accountant

All which, & whether a coinage shall be set on foot till there be a greater want of such money, is most humbly submitted to yo^r Lord^ps great wisdome.

And that when a coinage of such money shall be resolved upon by her Ma^ty, the{illeg} Petitioners & others who sell\have/ copper be considered\works be treated w^th/ & his copper chosen which is best coloured & most malleable & ch{illeg}p{illeg}|eap|est of such sorts of c{illeg}|o|pper as will hammer when red hot.