84 Standard Gold and Silver Trial Plates. 



At the Mint there exists, said the late Mr. Bingley, 

 Queen's Assay er (who took great pains to ascertain the fact), 

 no authentic information as to the actual existence of standard 

 plates anterior to the year 1660; but it is morally certain 

 that their formation must have been coeval with the institu- 

 tion of the pyx trials. In a previous paper published in 

 this journal,* it was stated that the quality of the British 

 coinage had fluctuated under various monarchs to a slight 

 extent, but that for several centuries it had remained un- 

 altered. This latter fact is due, no doubt, to the increased 

 skill and improved workmanship which, in modern times, has 

 distinguished the employes of the Mint, as well as to the higher 

 standard of morality which has obtained among our rulers. It 

 is clear, nevertheless, that trial plates have not been without 

 their influence on the purity of the coin of the realm. They 

 have afforded the readiest means of checking the quality of the 

 metallic currency which could be devised. It is, beyond doubt, 

 possible for skill and integrity to keep coins up to any parti- 

 cular quality of fineness ; but as this involves also personal re- 

 sponsibility, it is assuredly necessary to have, as an arbiter of 

 disputes, and as a guarantee to the public of the honesty of its 

 servants, standards of excellence, religiously kept, but to which 

 periodical reference may be readily made. That this feeling 

 has been always entertained is proved by the circumstance that 

 Government has always been provided with trial or test-plates, 

 by comparison with which the fineness of the coin might at 

 once be estimated. It was also deemed advisable, as long- 

 back as the year 1660, that the manufacture of the plates should 

 have been trusted to those who, not being in any way connected 

 with the Mint, could have no possible interest in deviations 

 from strict accuracy of workmanship. The Company of Gold- 

 smiths appeared to be the fittest persons for the task ; and 

 from the year named to this hour, they have accordingly been 

 empowered to accomplish it. It is unnecessary to say that they 

 have in all cases acquitted themselves to the satisfaction of the 

 Government, and to the best interests of the public. 



It may not be improper here to state that, having once 

 determined on the quality or fineness of the intended trial- 

 plates, there are yet several difficulties to be surmounted in 

 their formation. Should there be any error made in the quantity 

 of either the fine metal or the alloy to be combined with it, the 

 resulting plates would be imperfect. Again, should either of 

 the two metals to be united be impure, even in the slightest 

 degree, the necessary homogeneity would not be attained from 

 their mixture in the crucible. . Allowing that the weight and 



* Vide No. 14. 



