Proposals for measures to eliminate counterfeiting

Author: John Rotherham

Source: MINT 19/1/492-3, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

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  - 1 January 2001
    - Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young
  - 29 September 2011
    - Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins
  - 5 February 2017
    - Transcribed by Will Scott
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<492r>

19^th: August 1720.

Sir

I presume to Acquaint your Honour that I have for many Years last past Imployed my whole time, and much money in the Publick service, wherein I have been so successful that the Government has had grat Benefit thereby without my being Reimbursed my charges, much less Rewarded for my service, altho I Produced ample Certificates signed by several Members of the Honourable House of Commons to prove my Performance, Notwithstanding which (tho the Treatment I have had might have Discouraged any one from further Endeavours to Serve the Government yet it doth not me for) I am Earnestly desirous to Exert myself therein to my lives end.

I have a Proposall to make to your Honour Relating to the Coin, whereby the Salaries of the Master Worker, Master Melter, and the Master Graver of the Mint will be Encreased at least Two hundred Pounds yearly or as your Honour shall think fit, and the Government save between Fifteen, and Twenty Thousand Pounds Per Annum Which I humbly hope will be Esteemed a Matter of such Consequence <492v> as to have the Management thereof under the Conduct of Five Comissioners (whereof yourself to be one) seperate from the present Comissioners of the Mint. And that his Majesty King George wou'd be graciously pleased to Grant his Letters Patents under the Great Seal of Great Britain to Constitute such New Comissioners and their Heirs for ever Comissioners in Fee for Manageing the Coin in the Method I shall make known to your Hour (if permitted so to do) with the yearly Salary of Five hundred Pounds each.

Those who I wou'd Recomend to be joyned with your Honour in the Comission are

His Grace Duke Chancious or Ralph Freman Esq^r.

The Right Honourable Richard Hambin Esq^r

Ioseph Blake of Red Lyon Square Esq^r and myself.

The Method found out by me will Effectually at all times hereafter prevent the Currant Coin thos this Kingdom being Counterfeited, whereby the lives of many persons in time to come will be saved, who else might suffer the L{aw} for Counterfeiting.

When this is put in Practice here, the Vse of it will be so easily deserned, that not only all Courts in Europe, but those <493r> of other Countries all over the World, where the Mettalls of Gold, and Silver are Coined, will take the same way to prevent Counterfeiting. But Great Britain being the first who Introduces the same into the World, will add much to the glory of the British Nation, and be so Remarkable, and Memorable, as to be Recorded amongst the many Great things done by his Majesty, in this his happy Reign, and Great Honour to yourself, by being done during the time of your honours having the chief Direction of the Coinage

What Remaines to Conclude these, is that your

honour wou'd be pleased to permit me to speak with

you fully on this matter I am

Sir

Your Honnours

most obedient Servant

John Rotherham