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The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal ... - IndianCoins.org

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132 HELEN FARQUHAR.remember to have seen a great many pieces <strong>of</strong> this BrassMoney, but <strong>of</strong> late years this liberty has been taken away byAct <strong>of</strong> Parliament, <strong>and</strong> it is High Treason at present foranybody to coin brass money but such persons as are commissionedby <strong>the</strong> Crown.But as to Medals <strong>the</strong>re never has been any Law madeabout <strong>the</strong>m So that every man seems to be left in his NaturalLiberty to make any Medals he sees fit, Unless <strong>the</strong> prerogative<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Crown restrains him.What <strong>the</strong> prerogative <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Crown is in this respect tisDifficult to say <strong>the</strong>re is no written law <strong>and</strong> Persons that;have read all <strong>the</strong> Books (that ever <strong>the</strong>y could meet with,that treated <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rights & prerogative <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> crown) Neversaw any Law Book that <strong>of</strong>fers to explain it in this particular<strong>the</strong>re seems to be no rule <strong>of</strong> forming a judgement in thiscase but by <strong>the</strong> Patents which <strong>the</strong> Crown had granted toEngravers general, or by <strong>the</strong> custom <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Mint <strong>of</strong> Engl<strong>and</strong>.As to Patents one may consult Rymer<strong>and</strong> see whe<strong>the</strong>r<strong>the</strong>re are any Patents <strong>of</strong> Engravers General in his Collection<strong>of</strong> Eecords. <strong>The</strong> Patent <strong>of</strong> K. Charles 2 to old Mr. Eoettiers& his Bro<strong>the</strong>rs, gives <strong>the</strong>m authority to frame medals <strong>of</strong> hisown Effigies or on occasion <strong>of</strong> any Remarkable success or Worthyaction <strong>and</strong> appropriates to <strong>the</strong>m all <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>it <strong>and</strong> benefit <strong>of</strong>such medals.<strong>The</strong>re is no mention made <strong>the</strong>re <strong>of</strong> Puncheons & Diesfrom which <strong>the</strong> medals are struck, So that whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y areincluded Under <strong>the</strong> words pr<strong>of</strong>it <strong>and</strong> benefit <strong>of</strong> Medals is noteasy to determine.Indeed one never heard <strong>of</strong> any Puncheons <strong>of</strong> old Medalspreserved in <strong>the</strong> Tower or in <strong>the</strong> possession <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Crown ;if <strong>the</strong>re were <strong>the</strong>y must be in <strong>the</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> proper Officer<strong>the</strong> Engraver General to keep <strong>the</strong>m from spoiling & to use<strong>the</strong>m on occasion <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>re is such a fury in Engl<strong>and</strong> atpresent for old Medals, <strong>the</strong>y would soon get sets <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>mstruck <strong>of</strong>f ;<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>refore one may reasonably Conclude <strong>the</strong>mlost, Which Can't well be accounted for but by <strong>the</strong>ir being<strong>the</strong> property <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Engravers that work <strong>the</strong>m.<strong>The</strong>re is ano<strong>the</strong>r enquiry to be made in this case Viz.Whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> King besides <strong>the</strong> Engravers salary gives himany particular fee for making a Puncheon <strong>and</strong> die <strong>and</strong> if hedoes, whe<strong>the</strong>r such, puncheon & Die becomes <strong>the</strong> Kingsproperty, or he has only <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> When it he pleases tosend a Warrant to Coin Medals <strong>of</strong> such Gold & silver Bullionas he sends with it ;tis not easy to learn here whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>King gives any such fee or what it is, And if he does whe<strong>the</strong>r

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