Mr. J. Napier on Spurious Coins. 347 



ring is much improved, but still sharper and of shorter duration than 

 silver. They are easily marked by the teeth, and give the crackling 

 sound of tin but slightly. 



A shilling of this sort analyzed gave in 100 parts — 



Tin, 90 



Copper, ..... 10 



100 



A crown piece, of which there were recently a good many in circula- 

 tion, gave in 100 parts — 



Tin, 87-4 



Copper, . . . . . 12'3 



99-7 



This latter was the best alloy for the purpose. These sort are often cast 

 from models of a late date, and when they are newly made, and before 

 the air has had any effect upon them, they are a most perfect counter- 

 feit so far as appearances go. However, there are many also cast or 

 stamped from coins of old date. The shilling analyzed was dated 1836, 

 and the crown 1820. In general spurious silver are made from partially 

 worn coin, no doubt to take the advantage of the impression that if a 

 coin is worn it is more likely to be good, and a worn coin is not so easily 

 detected by the weight in the hand. As a great deal of our silver coin is 

 very much worn, I have had them nearly one-fourth lighter than a new 

 coin by abrasion. We may remark that there is one general feature in the 

 whole of these silver coins that may be easily taken advantage of where 

 there is any dubiety of their genuineness, namely, the weight. Selecting 

 a good coin of the same Avear and putting them against others in the 

 balance, the spurious will be found wanting from one-fifth to one-fourth 

 of the whole weight, when there need be no hesitation in rejecting or 

 retaining the bad article. Or if rubbed a little between the fingers, they 

 have a heavy smell which genuine coin have not got. 



The following paragraph has been printed and circulated, showing a 

 new alloy in use for spurious silver coins, and marks a quality I have 

 not yet seen : — 



"Newly Inverted Spurious Coin.— Within the last few days Mr. Webster, 

 the Inspector-General of Coins to her Majesty's Mint, has received some counter- 

 feit shillings, bearing date of those issued in 1852, and which more perfectly re- 

 present the genuine coin than anything ever yet put in circulation. Their differ- 

 ence from the ordinary bad money is, that they are struck with a beautifully 

 executed die from a hard white metal, which is subsequently strongly electro- 

 plated. Their being struck from dies renders them to nil appearance perfect in this 

 respect, that the rim and nerling is cut quite sharp and complete, whereas in the 



