6(5 YEAR-BOOK OF FACTS. ■ 



Some silk-cutting tools have been made, and so admirably liavc 

 they turned out that one particular firm will in future use no others. 

 In the surgical instruments the edges have been examined by the 

 microscope, and have stood the test in keeping the superiority. This 

 steel is stated to possess peculiar advantages for gun-barrels and 

 boring-cutters for ordnance purposes. As far as is at present known 

 of this extraordinary metal, it bids fair to claim all the finer classes 

 of cutlery and edge-tool instruments to itself, so well has everything 

 made from it turned out. Messrs. Moseley, in whose hands the sole 

 manufacture of cutlery and edge-tools is vested for this country, have 

 placed a case, filled with the metal in all its stages, in the Polytechnic 

 Institution. There is the fine metallic sand, some beautiful speci- 

 mens of the cutlery made from it, and the intermediate phases of the 

 iron and steel. — The Australian Mail. 



THE NEW BRONZE COINAGE. 



We need not describe this New Coinage, now in general circula- 

 tion. Its artistic character is by no means creditable to Her Ma- 

 jesty's Mint, the authorities of which are responsible for strangely 

 misrepresenting the agreeable features and stately contour of our 

 beloved Queen. The Britannia on the obverse is also a very con- 

 ventional affair, of the insurance-office type. No sooner had the 

 coin been issued than a few precocious critics seized upon the 

 "Britt." of the legend as an error; though, probably, these wise- 

 acres were not born when a similar objection was made to the 

 "Britt." of the legend on the Victoria crown-piece, explained by the 

 customary doubling in abbreviation of the final consonant, to de- 

 note the plural, as in the lioman Ooss. (Consuls). We quote the 

 following details from the Mechanics' Magazine : — 



The material of which the coins are composed is far more suitable 

 for coinage than pure copper. It resembles in its composition, indeed, 

 very closely the "gun-metal" so well known and hugely patronized 

 by engineers, and has, when free from oxidation, a golden hue. 

 The exact composition of the bronze mixture for these coins is as 

 follows : — 



Oppor 05 parts. 



Tin 4 „ 



Zinc 1 part. 



It may not be improper to add that to the pound weight avoirdupois 

 there are of — 



Bronze ppneo 48 



,, liallpeneo 



,, farthings ... 10 I 



individual pieces will, therefore, weigh : — 



\- 145*83 grains. 



Halfpenny B7*60 



l'art hing 13~5 ,, 



The individual weights of the most recent copper coinage were : — 



Penny 291K grains. 



Halfpenny 1 i\ 



farthing 72[i ,, 



