Copy of letter concerning the coining of her Majesty's gold from Portsmouth

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To the Rt. hon: the lord high
Treasurer of England

May it polace your Lordp.

In pursuance of your Lordps. verball Order for Coyning her Maties gold which came from Portsmouth. the same has been opened Weighed melted into Ingots and Coyned. It was an Ounce and a quartr above Weight, but the dust Gold was very foul & being Examined wth a Loadstone was found full of Iron filings and therfore in the melting lost something more then two pounds in Weight, and remained very Brittle. The gross weight by the Invoyce was 65Lwt: 8oz: 3dwt. The standard Weight after melting and toughning was 65Lwt: 10oz: 11dwt: 5gr. and being Coyned it made 2944 Guineas and 22 grains over wch. after the rate of 21s.: 6g. the Guinea and 2d. the grain, amounts to 3164 L: 15 shillings and 8 pence as in the Weigher and Tellers Account annexed, with the Warden and Comptroller Certificate.

In the Invoyce the Gold is recconed at 5LL 5s the ounce supposing it perfectly fine and recconing a Crown piece at 6 shillings wch is the rate in ye Plantations. and by this recconing the Gold is valued in the Invoyce at 4137l: 1{illeg}9s: 9d by abating one shilling in six. and allowing for the waste in melting and Toughning and for the want of perfect fineness the value comes down to 3164L: 19s: and 8d as above.

The charges of sending an officer of the Mint to Portsmouth and bringing the Gold from thence & melting the same into Ingots were 9li: 9s: 6d: as in the bill Annexed, without allowing the Officer any thing for his Trouble who in modesty would make no demand on that amount. I humbly pray your Lordships Order for paying the surplus above the Charges into the Exchequer

All which is most humbly submitted to your

Lordships great Wisdom.

Mint office
5th March 1705/6

Is: Newton

I believe 12 Guineas may be
a reasonable reward to ye officer
abiove menion'd, if your Ld.p shall so
think fitt

Is: Newton