Holograph draft of <ref target="/catalogue/record/MINT00179">MINT00179</ref> (Mint 19/1/275) Isaac Newton c. 429 words The Newton Project Oxford 2017 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 Between 21 August 1710 and 28 March 1711, c. 429 words. MINT 19/1/276, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/1/276 Between 21 August 1710 and 28 March 1711 England English Holograph MintPyx Trials and Analyses of British Coinage Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins Transcribed by Will Scott
27615

May it please yoryour LordpsLordship

Meeting withFinding reason to suspect that the present indented trial piece of Gold made last summer was three years, by isare too fine I have nicely examined them matterthat in my keep & find by many assays that titity isare finer then the former trial pieces made in yethe reign of king year 1688 by about a quarter of a grain tho that the last trial piece be also something too fine by the assay. Which differences being a difference of great consequence, I have further endeavoured to find out the reason thereof for preventingthat the like accidents for the fu future in making new trial pieces when ever it shall be thought fit to have new ones made. And I findin making new trial pieces hereafter may be prevented avoided. And I have by the assay I am satisfied that there are different various degrees of fine gold, some fine gold being 24 carats fine by the assay, some a quarter of a grain fi coarser or finer or above, & that gold may be refined so high ats to be almost half a grain finer then 24 carats by the assay. And accordingly as the fine gold is refined more or less of wchwhich the standard pieces are made is finer or coarser the standard pieces will be finer or coarsedr in proportion. aAnd from all this matter of fact[And thence arise these considerations. Whether there should not be one common standard for all the market the money the markets plate & the marketMerchants gold in all great bBritain, & whether this standard should not be setled by the assay & preserved in the Exchequer for a rule to Iuries in making trial pieces for the future? And whether new trial pieces should not be made according to this rule? And the like for silver?

All wchwhich &c

By which means the standard of gold is rendred very uncertain notwithstanding the fidelity of a jury Iuries. And what I have said of gold may be applied to silver.

I humbly offer therefore to your Lordships consideration thatwhether there should not be one common standard & of gold & one of silver for the money place & merchantable Ingots of Merchants in all great Britain, setled by the asaay.; & whether the standard once setled should not be preserved in the Exchequer for a rule to Iuries in making trial pieces for the future. And whether new Trial peieces should not be now made this year according to this standard without varying.