CHAP. xXm. FABRICATION OF COIN. 1Q1 



ing that the debasement or deficiency was at the 

 rate of forty-eight pounds twelve shillings and four- 

 pence per cent. l 



It became impossible to proceed farther without 

 a renovation, and though opposed by some power- 

 ful factions in both houses of parliament, the mea- 

 sure was resolved on by small majorities, although 

 the country was at the time in the midst of an 

 extended and expensive war. 



The restoration of the coin to its due purity 

 and weight in England seems to have produced an 

 improvement in the state of the coin on the conti- 

 nent. In France many changes were introduced, 

 with the express purpose " pour tre en propor- 

 tion avec les etats voisins, et pour empecher qu'ils 

 n' enlevassent I 9 or et I* argent du royaume 2 ." 

 In Germany several of the smaller states formed 

 conventions, by which it was agreed that the money 

 should circulate through the allied dominions upon 

 condition that each sovereign should coin it of the 

 same degree of purity. This was the origin of 

 the best kind of money generally known by the 

 name of Conventions geld. In Italy improvements 

 also took place in the money of most of the states, 

 and on almost the whole of Europe (for the ex- 

 ceptions are few) : an increased degree of durability 

 was given to the coins in circulation about the 

 same period. 



1 Ruding, vol. ii. p. 387- 



2 Abot de Bazinghen, vol. ii. p. 207- 



