03.04.2013 Views

The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

IRISH COINAGES OF HENEY VIII AND EDWARD VI. 199<br />

any <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> trials <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pyx<br />

during this reign.<br />

THE SECOND COINAGE, 1540.<br />

at <strong>the</strong> Star Chamber<br />

In this year ano<strong>the</strong>r commission was directed to <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong>ficers at <strong>the</strong> Tower mint. Dr. Aquilla Smith sets out<br />

<strong>the</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> order <strong>and</strong> tells us (op. cit, pp. 167-8)<br />

that <strong>the</strong>y had been communicated to him. Unhappily,<br />

<strong>the</strong> extract is incomplete <strong>and</strong> inaccurate, according to<br />

my reading <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> original text, <strong>and</strong> it will <strong>the</strong>refore<br />

be desirable again to quote its provisions :<br />

Commission to Kauf Rowlett <strong>and</strong> Martin Bowes, masters<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Tower mint, <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs, dated 13 July, 32 Henry VIII<br />

(1540).<br />

<strong>The</strong> King resolved to cause to be newly made certain<br />

moneys <strong>of</strong> silver to be current within his Dominion <strong>of</strong> Irel<strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>and</strong> not elsewhere, at certain values <strong>and</strong> rates, having<br />

<strong>the</strong> arms <strong>of</strong> his realm <strong>and</strong> a scripture about <strong>the</strong> same, as by<br />

him appointed, on <strong>the</strong> one side, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> arms <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Dominion<br />

<strong>of</strong> Irel<strong>and</strong>, namely a harp crowned, <strong>and</strong> a scripture about <strong>the</strong><br />

same, on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r side. And <strong>the</strong> same money to be <strong>of</strong> a<br />

st<strong>and</strong>ard lately devised, namely 9 oz. fine silver <strong>and</strong> 3 oz.<br />

alloy in <strong>the</strong> pound Troy, that is to say, <strong>of</strong> an alloy <strong>of</strong> 40 dwt.<br />

worse in <strong>the</strong> pound Troy than is <strong>the</strong> sterling money <strong>of</strong><br />

Engl<strong>and</strong> made according to <strong>the</strong> indentures <strong>of</strong> 6 April in <strong>the</strong><br />

24th year (1533). And <strong>the</strong> said money shall " keep in num-<br />

ber " 144 in <strong>the</strong> pound weight, which shall be current in<br />

Irel<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> be called sixpence Irish ; <strong>and</strong> also <strong>the</strong> "demy<br />

pieces " <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same, which shall be <strong>the</strong>re current <strong>and</strong> be<br />

called threepence Irish, <strong>and</strong> shall keep in number 288 in<br />

<strong>the</strong> pound weight, <strong>of</strong> like print <strong>and</strong> fineness, which corresponds<br />

in weight <strong>and</strong> fineness with divers old coins <strong>the</strong>n<br />

current in Irel<strong>and</strong>. <strong>The</strong> remedy was to be 2 dwt. in <strong>the</strong><br />

pound. <strong>The</strong> masters were to take up for charges 2s. in each<br />

pound weight. (Patent Roll, 32 Henry VIII, part 4, m. 11.)<br />

I observe that <strong>the</strong>re are no stipulations for <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong><br />

a privy mark or for a trial <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pyx. Evidently <strong>the</strong><br />

primary object <strong>of</strong> this commission was to reduce <strong>the</strong>

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!