Westropp — Money Weights and Foreign Coin m Ireland. 4^ 



Charles Dickinson, sinker of the irons in the Mint at Edinburgh, to make 

 weights for the coins then current. No mention was made of any maker of 

 weights for Ireland. The earliest reference to the making of money weights 

 for use in Ireland I have been able to find belongs to the year 1632. On 

 December 20th of that year a proclamation was issued appointing Sir Thomas 

 Aylesbury maker of money weights for England, Ireland, and Wales. 

 Aylesbury's patent bears date October 20th, 1632 ; and by it he was 

 appointed maker of money weights for life at a yearly rent of twenty 

 shillings. The weights were to be ready by January 26th following, and no 

 other kinds were to be issued after that date. (Eymer's Foedera.) 



Money weights occur bearing on the obverse the number of pennyweights 

 and grains, and on the reverse the Spanish arms. One I possess bears the 

 name of Philip IV of Spain (1621-1665). These were probably used in 

 Ireland at this period, the weights agreeing with those of the silver dollar or 

 piece of eight and its subdivisions. (See Plate V, No. 1.) 



The following Acts of Parliament, proclamations, notices, etc., referring 

 to money weights and to foreign coin current in Ireland, are set out 

 chronologically : — 



July J 0th, 1641. The Lords Justices and Council to Secretary Vane. 

 In order to remedy the absence of coin in the Kingdom, we have, after 

 consultation with foreign merchants here and with goldsmiths, thought of 

 issuing the enclosed proclamation enhancing the value of foreign coins. We 

 desire the King's advice on the matter. A valuation of foreign coins, gold 

 and silver, to pass for current in the Kingdom of Ireland at the following 

 rates and weights : — 



The golden Pdder or Horseman of the Netherlands, weighing 



6 dwt. 12 grs. with 3 grs. allowance, . . . .£120 



Half ditto with 2 grs. allowance. 



The golden Eider or Horseman of Scotland, weighing 



3 dwt. 6 grs. with 2 grs. allowance, . . . . £0 11 



The half ditto with 1 gr. allowance. 



The golden Albertus of Brabant, weighing 3 dwt. 14 grs. with allowance of 

 2 grs., lis. Oc^. The half ditto with allowance of 1 gr. The golden Pistolet 

 of Spain, weighing 4 dwt. 10 grs., 15s. Od, with allowance of 6 grs. for double 

 Pistolet and 2 grs. for half ditto. The silver Cardescu or quarter-Crown of 

 France, weighing 6 dwt., Is. id. The half ditto accordingly. The Testoon of 

 Portugal, weighing 6 dwt., Is. 4d The half ditto accordingly. None of the 

 above shall pass in Ireland unless they weigh as above mentioned. 



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