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_ well executed and most difficult to detect, and although the 
credit, or discredit, for the production of much of the counterfeit 
coin complained of must be given to misdirected English 
ingenuity, in the light of information now available, it is certain 
that much of the Spanish Coin, whether obtained by capture, or 
peacefully imported into this Country, then officially stamped and 
_ re-issued as Silver, was itself counterfeit, being good imitations 
‘in Brass thickly plated, of the genuine Dollars ; the plating of the 
base coin rivalling, if not excelling, anything that could then be 
‘produced at the Soho Works, and being also proof against an 
acid test, it is not surprising that the Bank Officials were often 
_ deceived, and so passed into circulation large quantities of coin, 
the baseness of which was only detected after the actual wear 
of use. 
_ In 1804, the Bank of England commenced the issue of their 
‘own Dollars, chiefly foreign Silver coins re-struck. The Chrovtcle 
of October 12th, 1809, mentions “The Bank had £100,000 
worth of Spanish Dollars new struck at Boulton & Co.’s manu- 
a £800,000 in re-stamped Dollars will shortly be added to our 
Si ver currency, they were sent a few days ago from the Bank to 
value of 3s. and 1s. 6d., and intended to issue Tokens of the 
value of gd., but apparently this intention was not carried out. 
Surteen years’ imprisonment.” 
; ‘The issue late in 1797 of the coinage from the Soho Mints 
nade a great improvement in the copper currency, but large 
