CHAPTER IV. 



CURRENCY. 



ACCORDING to Ruding, in his History of the Mint 

 (he gives his authorities for the statement), Elizabeth coined 

 in silver 4,718,579 2s. 8^., besides 118,322 qs. 4\d. in 

 base money for Ireland. She also coined in fine gold 

 440,552 8s. <)\d. y and in crown gold 354,5^5 *9^ 1 d > She 

 reigned forty-four years and a little over four months. She 

 therefore, omitting fractions, coined on an average 107,240 

 in silver and 18,071 in gold annually, for English use. 



James reigned twenty-two years and three days. He is said by 

 the same authority to have coined of silver 1,641,00413.?. 3^., 

 besides 116,273 us. in Irish currency, and of gold 32,093 

 ijs. yd. in 'angel' gold, 3,634,296 is. id. in crown gold. 

 The average annual coinage of silver in this reign was there- 

 fore 74,582 ; that of gold was 166,654, the figures being 

 treated in the same way. 



Charles reigned twenty-three years and a little over ten months. 

 Omitting fractions, and taking this reign at twenty-four years, he 

 is said to have coined in silver 8,776,544 ics. $d., and in gold 

 12,658 5,?. in fine gold, and 3,307,019 in crown gold. This 

 gives a yearly average in silver of 365,689, and in gold 

 of 138,320. If in this sum is included the coinages struck 

 during the war, one can understand the large increase in the 

 silver currency. If this coinage is not included, the reason 

 must be sought elsewhere. 



The Commonwealth lasted eleven years and four months. 



