190)

Author: Isaac Newton

Source: MINT 19/3/188-9, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

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  - 29 September 2011
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Related Texts
- This document is a version of:
  If pyx trials are to continue to be conducted in Scotland as the Lord Chancellor of Scotland wishes, new gold and silver trial pieces should be made and allotted to the English and Scottish Mints and Treasuries and to the Goldsmith's Company [MINT 19/3/190]

<188r>

To the Right Honourable Sidney Earle of Godolphin Lord High Treasurer.

May it please your Lordship

Attending my Lord Chancellour of Scotland on Thursday about the Mint at Edinburgh, his Lordship proposed to us to lay before your Lordship a Memorial concerning some things to be considered by the Committee of Council which is to sit to day upon the affairs of Scotland.

His Lordship is considering whether the Pix of that Mint may not be still tried before her Majesties Council in Scotland as formerly, & if so, we are humbly of opinion that in conformity to the Act of Vnion there may be made seven indented Trial pieces of Crown gold & seven of standard silver, two of each metal to be kept in the two Treasuries to try the Pixes of the two Mints, two of each for the Wardens of the two Mints to try the moneys before delivery & to decide questions between the Master & Importer about the fineness of the Bullion, two of each for the masters of the two Mints to make the moneys by, & one of each for the Wardens & Company of Goldsmiths to try their plate & manufactures of gold & silver. It will be also convenient that a Pile of standard Troy weights be made for the Treasury in Scotland by the Deputy Chamberlains of the Exchequer, if it be not already done. But if both pixes be tried by the original standard weights at Westminster, six Trial pieces will be sufficient. They have formerly been made by a Iury of Goldsmiths summoned & sworn either by the Lord Chancellour or by the Lord Treasurer.

The Indenture of the Mint directs that two Piles of Standard Troy weights be made by the Warden of the Mint & one of them delivered to the General of the Mint in Scotland. They may be printed like the weights sent to the corporations & in the absence of the General delivered to your Lordships order.

For setting the coynage on foot speedily in that Mint Her Majesty may please to issue out her Warrant to the General & other Officers with a copy of the present Indenture of the Mint in the Tower annexed to it, authorizing & commanding them to coyn the moneys of gold & silver under the rules set down in the said annexed Copy & directing to observe that the Counterwarden to check the Meltings & coynage & keep an Account of the Dyes & that if any dispute shall arise about the regulation of that mint for the order of the Treasury or Council of Scotland be oobserved concerning the same. In the late recoynage of the hammered moneys in England, one tenth part of the silver was coyned into sixpences & four tenths into shillings, & the same proportion may be prescribed in the said Warrant if it be thought fit.

Another Warrant may be directed to the Master of that Mint authorising him to command the Graver to make Master Puncheons & Dyes for coyning the money of the same form with the money coyned in the Tower of London & to use such master Puncheons as shall be sent him from the tower untill the Puncheons made by himself shall be approved by the Officers of that Mint, & to set the letter E (the first letter of the name of the City of Edinborough) under her Majesties Effigies as in the specimens of Dyes which will be sent him from the Tower, that the money coyned in the two Mints may be thereby distinguished.

<188v>

The Gravers are making shillings Puncheons in the Tower, with the new a{rms} of great Britain, & tell us that they will be finished with two or three pair of Dyes & be sent to Edinburgh within a fortnight. And while they are coyning shillings in that mint, there may be Puncheons made for coyning other money. For we believe it may be convenient to send them the first Puncheons from hence that the money of both Mints may be exactly alike. And if more Puncheons be at any time desired by the Officers of that Mint, we are ready to furnish them, the same being paid for out of moneys belonging to that Mint.

A new Instrument may be drawn up at any time hereafter, either in the form of an Indenture between her Majesty & the Master of that Mint, or in the form of a Warrant prescribing the duty of every Officer in particular.

My Lord

By the direction of my Lord Chancellour of Scotland we humbly present your Lordship withthe inclosed Memorial to be laid before the Committee of Council which sits this afternoon upon the Scotch affairs.

<189r>

authorising & commanding them to act under those rules there set down which relate to their several Offices & under the further directions of the Lord Treasurer of Sc{otland} suitable to those Rules & particularly that the Master coyne all the moneys of the weight & fineness & within the remedy there set down & take care that the several pieces bee not lighter then their counterpoises & that the Warden & Counter-warden survey & cheque the proceedings & accounts of all the other Officers, & see that the moneys be well & duely coyned in all respects & that the General of the Mint or Lord Treasurer of Scotland appointed one of the Officers of Clerks to keep an account of the Dyes & Puncheons