592 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 



the first year of the present century, the " circulating medium " 

 consisted of coins of any and every country the vessels of 

 which traded with or called at Port Jackson. 



It must be borne in mind that at this date British silver 

 currency was very scanty in amount and of decreased value 

 from excessive wear and tear, and filing, which all the pre- 

 cautions taken in the reign of George II. had not effectually 

 prevented. A comparatively small issue of i.*5o,459 in 

 shilhngs and sixpences had been made in England in 1787, 

 but a very small proportion of this issue made its way to the 

 new colony, and the colonists were compelled to accept as 

 currency those coins which were available for the purpose. 

 Copper coin was particularly scarce at this time. 



Governor Philip Gidley King arrived at Sydney in 

 September, 1800, and very shortly afterwards published a 

 proclamation in the following terms : — 



''November \9th, 1800. 



" Whereas representation of the want of small money 

 experienced here has induced His Majesty to take into 

 gracious consideration the immediate relief from this great 

 inconvenience to all classes of his subjects in this colony, a 

 quantity of copper coin has been received in His Majesty's 

 armed vessel Porpoise, and will be circulated by being paid 

 for grain and animal food supplied by His Majesty's store. 



" These are therefore to give notice, that a copper coin 

 weighing one English ounce, and stamped with the profile of 

 His Majesty on one side and of Britannia on the other, will 

 be issued as above, at the rate of two-pence for each copper, 

 and that the same shall pass current in the colony, and is to 

 circulate at the aforesaid rate of two-pence. 



" And that no one may plead ignorance of the rate or 

 legahty of this or any other of the coins circulating in this 

 colony, of which it does not appear that any regular pro- 

 clamation has ever collectively been issued, I have judged it 

 most expedient herewith to publish the following table of all 

 the specie legally circulating in this colony, with the rates 

 affixed to each at which they shall be considered and be a 

 legal tender in all payments or transactions in this colony: — 



"Table of Specie. 



£ s. fl. 



A guinea 12 



A jolmiina 4 



An half ditto 2 



A duoat *. 9 6 



