An account of experimental coinage of halfpence from bars: the coins have proved substandard. Suspects tin has been added by the melter contrary to instructions. Repeats request for money to repair and equip the Irish Mint [see MINT00611 (Mint 19/2/305)]

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To the most the Earl of Oxford & Earl Mortimer Lord High Treasurer of great Britain

May it please your Lordship

Since I attended your Lordship last, I caused a new Furnace to be built in order to a further trial of what may be done by casting of copper into Barrs & coyning copper money out of those barrs. But in the mean time upon assaying the half pence of which I shewed your Lordship a specimen, I found the copper coarser then it was by the assay before casting. Whereupon I ordered Mr Bagley the founder to supply me with such barrs as would fully endure the assay: but he has not yet produced any tho it be about three weeks since I gave him the order. Whence I suspect that in the specimen of half pence which I shewed your Lordship he put in some Tynn without my knowledge tho I stood by to see him cast the copper & he pretends another cause.

Whether the Fillets be made by hammering or casting it will be requisite to repair the Mill-rooms & other rooms in the Irish Mint for cutting flatting scouring & nealing the money, & the repairs by the workmen's estimate will come to about 145li. If your Lordship please to let me have a Warrant for repairing them, It may be done in six weeks time

We do not receive gold & silver into the mint to be coyned untill they be made fit to be received. If your Lordship shall think fit that the copper be made into fillets by hammering, & received into the Mint by weight & assay & the money delivered back by weight & assay the coynage being paid for by the Importer: a coynage may be set on foot in this manner so soon as the charge of coynage, the number of pieces in a pound weight & the Reverse of the money shall be setled. And the money made by this method will be of the same fineness with that of Sweden.

All which is most humbly submitted to your Lordships great
Wisdome

Is. Newton

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