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 1 car ij^gr better then standard & weighs 2^dwt 4^gr The Three Guilder piece is 4^dwt worse & weighs 20^dwt 6^gr The Spanish Pistoll is $\frac{1}{4}$ 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 12 $\frac{1}{2}$ ^dwt worse. A Jacobus & Carolus piece coyned for XX^s is the 41^th part of a pound Troy, & therefore weighs 7^dwt & about $\frac{1}{2}$ a grain But a broad Jacobus is the 38^th part of a pound Troy.

The whole number of Guineas coyned in the reigns of K. Charles K James & K William to the present time is The value of Gold has been greater here then in Holland in all these three reigns & thence the gold monies coyned in the reigns of King Charles & 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 the only metal brought into the Mint from abroad. The exchange in Holland is at p^resent about 5 per cent for Bank money & 1 $\frac{1}{4}$ more for Guineas that is about 6 $\frac{1}{4}$ or 6 $\frac{1}{2}$ per cent for Guines, so that Guineas is Holland are worth but about 1lb. 0^s 8^d of o^er milled silver monies.

The importation of silver is discouraged not only by its low price in proportion to gold but also by the Laws against exportation of Bullion the Merchant being unwilling to bring it on shore by reson of the difficulty they meet with in going off with it again in case they meet not with a good Mercat here.