Mr. J. Napier on Spiiriotis Coins 



349 



The next two sorts are composed of good copper, and differ only in 

 the one having been cast and the other stamped by hand. The first of 

 these are not numerous, and mostly moulded from the old penny. They 

 feel Hght, and have a light sharp sound compared to the genuine coin, 

 and smaller in diameter, — their average weight was 297 grains, fully 

 one-fourth lighter than a good coin of the same wear. The analysis 

 gave 



Copper, ..... 98.9 



Silver, 

 Tin, 

 Iron, 

 Lead, 



0-5 

 01 

 0-4 



trace 



99-9 



which is most excellent copper. 



The next sort is by far the most numerous, and are composed of 

 equally good metal ; but they are a most miserable coin as respects their 

 make, and if found by some future antiquarian numismatist would give 

 him a very poor and unfair impression of such an art in this age, — these 

 are made resembling pennies of various dates, some of them the most 

 recent, and I have no doubt form a very important branch of manufac- 

 ture to some parties, and as no one objects to take them their manufacture 

 is without risk. 



The commercial and political aspect of this state of our copper coinage 

 I do not here consider, but from the information I have obtained I believe 

 there can be no less than from 25 to 30 per cent, of the spurious copper 

 money in constant circulation in this part of the country which no doubt 

 originates in and is maintained by the scarcity of genuine copper coin. 

 From a parliamentary paper recently printed, it appears that only about 

 330,624 pennies and 455,616 halfpennies have been made yearly these 

 last six years by Government, certainly far too little for the requirements 

 of this country, and the equivalent of this supply not reaching distant 

 places, causes or rather necessitates a far greater and easier circulation of 

 spurious copper coins here than in London, which is a well known fact. 

 The scarcity of copper coinage and the great inducement to parties to 

 manufacture to supply this deficiency will be best stated by showing the 

 profits to be made by such manufacturers. Take copper at the average 

 price these three years back, it does not exceed £100 per ton. Thus 



112 lbs. copper cost . . . , ;C5 



112 lbs. coined at the Mint . . . 11 4 



112 lbs. made into cast pennies as above . 14 12 



1 12 lbs. made into stamped pennies as shown . 17 



Here is a source of a comfortable living to a few Brummagem [/arret men, 

 and, as we have said, without risk. 



