Report on copper coinage techniques Isaac Newton c. 380 words The Newton Project Oxford 2017 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 Autumn 1714?, c. 380 words. Treasurer

[Note on dating: NC tentatively places this document in January 1714 on grounds it is not very easy to follow. Craig more convincingly considers it to be related to and roughly contemporaneous with MINT00625 (Mint 19/2/363).]

Printed in NC, 6: 52-3. See Craig, NATM, 98.

Refers to and revises an earlier memorandum [possibly MINT00601 (Mint 19/2/352)]. The plan of casting copper directly into coin at the Mint has proved impracticable. Newton now favours inviting tenders to supply copper bars ready-hammered to coin thickness and discusses financial arrangements for this.

 MINT 19/2/308, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/2/308 Autumn 1714? England English Holograph Unknown Hand Unknown Hand (1) MintCopper Coinage MintCorrespondence Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins Transcribed by Will Scott Will Scott finished transcription Minor amendments made by Will Scott

To the RtRightmost HonbleHonourable the Earl of Oxford & Earl Mortimer LdLord H.High TrēarTreasurer of great Britain.

May it please yoryour LordpLordship

The last Autumn I laid before yoryour LordpLordship a Memorial wherein (to the best of my memory) I represented that if Copper worth 1112d per Lwtpound weight could be wrought into money by casting, the Copper & Coynage without edging the money would amount unto 1712 per Lwtpound weight, & allowing 212d more for the charge of putting off, buying & setting up coyning tools, repairing the buildings, building furnaces, paying Clerks & a Comptroller, & other Incidents; the whole would amount unto 20d per lwtpound weight. And after so much was coyned as was sufficient to supply the present want of copper money (wchwhich I recconed might be about 80 or 100 Tunns) the surplus above all charges, if there were any, might be paid into the Exchequer. And in the next coynage after a copper Mint was set up the money might be made heavier. But by further experience it appeared afterwards that such Copper could not be wrought by casting but must be wrought into barrs at the battering Mills.

I now beg leave to represent to yoryour LordpLordship that in my humble opinion the best method of coyning such bars into money, is to receive the same by weight & assay, giving Bills to the Importers & taking back the bills upon delivering back the same weight of Copper in scissel & money together, the Importer paying for the coynage of the money by the pound weight a certain Seigniorage to be accounted for by the Master & Worker. That the Importers will expect about 17d per pound weight above the Seigniorage for their copper & workmanship & for putting off the Copper money. And that the Moneyers insist upon 212d per lwtpound weight for their work, & it will cost an halfpenny per lwtpound weight to the Graver & Smith & a Clerk, in all 3d per lwtpound weight, to be paid out of the Seigniorage in all besides the allowance to the Master or his Deputy & such other Officers as shall be appointed, & besides the repairs of the buildings & charge of the coining Tools. All which &c 308 300