MINT 



855 



air are enclosed in the bars at the time of pouring the fluid metal into the moulds in 

 the melting-house. 



Besides this source of dumb work, may be mentioned another of large occurrence in 

 silver, and occasionally met with in gold, which results from an imperfect mixture of 

 the alloy at the time of melting, and developes itself at the draw-bench, where wholo 

 fillets, of six feet long, may be seen to separate into two complete layers of metal, the 

 inner surfaces being coated with a thin film of copper, frequently quite pure, but some- 

 times in the form of suboxide. It would thus appear that a globule of copper becomes 

 enveloped in a volume of fluid gold or silver, and, in the act of pouring, this globule is 

 drawn out into a kind of wire, perhaps extending some inches in length, enclosed in 

 precious metal. When this is rolled it is all flattened together, but there is no adhesion 

 between the surfaces, so that when the fillet passes through the draw-bench, the lateral 

 motion given to the atoms of the metal causes the slip which finally separates the two 

 surfaces of metal, and the eye at once detects the existence of the fault. 



The law enacts that 20 Ibs. weight troy of standard or crown gold shall be made 

 into 934-.50 sovereigns, and this proportion gives the means of determining the 

 theoretical weight of one sovereign ; for if the 20 Ibs. troy weight produce 934-50 

 coins, it is only necessary to divide by that number the number of grains in 20 ibs. 

 troy, and the quotient will represent the weight of a single sovereign, viz., 

 123-2744783306581059 troy grains ; therefore the joiirney of 701 sovereigns should 

 weigh 180-032102728731942215 troy ounces, and a million 256821-829855377 troy 

 ounces, equal to 7'8618927506797 tons avoirdupois ; hence the War Indemnity of 

 France weighed 1572-37855 tons. 



The following measurements, taken from a set of proof coins of the present reign, 

 will convey an idea of the probable size of any coin of the realm ; but from the reason 

 before stated, a man need not be disappointed should he find the diameters differ from 

 any he may examine by an accurate gauge. While stating the diameters (which never 

 vary beyond a few thousandths of an inch), it is thought proper to give the legal weight 

 and legal tender of each denomination of coin current in Great Britain : 



It appears that the Royal Mint should sustain less loss than any other mint by the 

 coining of gold and silver. If allowance be made for the sale of the sweep or dust 

 which results from a coinage, the total loss, inclusive of every operation in coining, 

 should be so small that it might be passed without notice ; in fact, there ought to be 

 a minute increase of weight from traces of oil which are left on the fillets to enable 

 them to pass through the cylinders of the draw-bench. By melting there seems to be 

 some loss of metal : this should reach about 100^. per million coined ; such loss 

 would be wholly explained by refining, through the removal of coppsr by oxidation ; 

 although this is minute, still it is enough to explain the loss which is thus indicated. 



Proclaimed illegal since 31st December 1869. 

 A. A 2 



