CHAP. XIV. ENGLISH COINAGE. 369 



In money of In money of the 



that period. present time. 



. s. d. . s. d. 



In the reign of Henry V. 22,610 16 44,221 12 



Henry VI. 40,800 12 81,601 4 



Edward IV. 102,650 10 164,24018 



Henry VII. 27,550 18 44,008 14 



The silver thus brought to the mints being 



in our present valuation of that metal 1,185,198 



And the gold . . . 446,908 



Makes the whole quantity in the 237 years 



from 1272 to 1509 . . 1,632,106 



Or average quantity annually . 6,886 10 



Although there is doubtless some obscurity in 

 the original documents in the Exchequer from 

 which Ruding derived his information, it is by 

 no means probable that there should be any such 

 material error in them as to affect the accuracy 

 of the inference here intended to be drawn, viz. 

 that the amount of coined gold and silver money 

 at the time of the discovery of America v/as 

 very minute when compared With the quantity 

 which it has reached since that period, and 

 with that which must have been in existence 

 when the Roman empire was at the height of its 

 grandeur and power. 



To show the contrast in a more striking point 

 of view, the following table exhibits the amount 

 of money coined in this kingdom during the 

 several reigns after the products of the mines of 

 the Spanish and Portuguese dominions in America 



VOL. i. B B 



