Copy of letter suggesting standards for the Mint in Scotland and in the Tower
To the Rt: Honble. the Earle of Godolphin Lord High Treasurer
May it please yor: Lordsp:
In obedience to yor. Lordsps Order on Saturday Last that we should lay before yor: Lordsp what we think proper to be done for setting on foot wth all convenient speed the Coynage in ye Mint at Edinburgh & for trying ye Pix of that Mint before Her Majtes. Council of Scotland: We humbly represent that in Conformity to ye Act of Vnion We conceive there should be made by a jury of Goldsmiths seven Indented Trial-pieces of Crown Gold & seven of standard silver; two of Each metal to be kept in ye two Treasurys to try ye pieces of ye two Mints. two of each for ye Wardens of ye two Mints to try ye Moneys before delivery & to decide Questions between ye Master & Importer about ye fineness of Bullion; two of each for ye Masters of ye two Mints to make ye Moneys by & one of each for ye Wardens & Company of Goldsmiths to try theire Plate & other manufactures of Gold & Silver & also that a pile of standard Troy Weights be made by ye Deputy Chamberlaines of ye Exchequer for ye Treasury of Scotland & two other Piles by ye Warden of this Mint in ye prsence of ye other Officers thereof in such manner that ye smaller weights be in a proportion to ye greater as ye Indenture of ye Mint directs; & that all these Piles be printed like ye Weights sent to ye Corporations, & one of ye two Piles be delivered to yor. Lordsps order for ye Mint in Scotland.
And We are further humbly of Opinion that untill an Indenture can be drawn up between Her Majti & ye Master of ye Mint at Edinburgh prscribing ye Duty of every Officer in ꝑticular, the Coynage may be there set on fot by Her Majtis Warrant directed to ye Genll & other Officers of that Mint, wth a Copy of ye present Indenture of ye Mint in ye Tower annexed to it authoriseing & requiring them to Act under ye rules there set down wch rotate to theire severall Officerss & ꝑticularly. That the Master Coyn all ye Moneys of ye Weight & Fineness & within ye Remedys there appointed & take care that ye several pieces be not lighter then theire Counterpoise & that ye Warden & Counter Warden survey & charge ye proceedings of all ye other Officers & minuters, & see that ye Moneys be well & duly Coyned in all respects & an exact account kept of ye Dyes & Puncheons
And We humbly conceive another Warrant if Her Majtie pleases may be directed to ye Master of that Mint nameing ye species to be Coyned by him & requireing him to Coyn one tenth part of ye silver into sixpences & four tenths into shillings & 3 tenths into half Crowns & ye rest into Crown pieces as was done in ye Late recoynage in England & authoriseing him to comand the Graver to make puncheons & Dyes for Coyning ye said Moneys of ye very same forme wth. the Money. Coyned in ye Tower of London & to use such Master Puncheons as shall be sent him from ye Tower for makeing ye Moneys of both Mints perfectly alike untill ye Puncheons made by himself shall be approved by ye Officers of that Mint, & to sett ye Letter E (the first Letter of ye name of ye City of Edinburgh) under Her Majties. Effigies as in ye Specimens of Dyes wch. will be sent him from ye Tower that ye Moneys of the two Mints may be thereby distinguished.
All wch is most humbly submitted to yor. Lordsps great wisdom
Source
MINT 1/8/143, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK2 Jun 1707, c. 644 words.