86 Standard Gold and Silver Trial Plates. 



whether of gold or silver, and of the coin, to the same 

 process, and, at the same time, for separating the alloy from 

 the precious metal. The result shows whether the coin sub- 

 jected to the assay is more or less fine than the plate, and in 

 what degree. 



It will be obvious that in the employment of this method 

 the accuracy of the plate is of the utmost importance, because 

 the trial does not determine immediately the relative fineness 

 of the coin assayed to the standard of the realm, but only to 

 the trial-pieces, wbich are presumed to be exactly conformable 

 to that standard. Before taking leave of this subject, it may 

 be well to define precisely what are the standards of the gold and 

 silver coins of England, both as regards fineness and weight, 

 together with the remedy allowed at the Pyx. 



J . The standard in fineness of the gold and silver coins of 

 the realm is as follows : — 



Gold — Twenty-two carats in one pound troy weight (or 

 eleven twelfth parts) of fine gold, and two carats in one pound 

 (or one-twelfth part) alloy. 



Silver — Eleven ounces and two pennyweights in one pound 

 troy weight (or thirty-seven fortieth parts) of fine silver, and 

 eighteen pennyweights (or three -fortieth parts) alloy. 



2. The standard in weight of the gold and silver coins of 

 the realm is as follows : — 



Gold — Nine hundred and thirty-four pieces and one half 

 piece of the denomination of a sovereign to weigh twenty 

 pounds troy weight, being at the rate of nearly one hundred and 

 twenty-three grains and two hundred and seventy-four one- 

 thousandth parts of a grain to each sovereign, or piece of the 

 value of one pound sterling, and so in proportion for pieces of 

 greater or less sterling value. 



Silver — Sixty-six pieces of the denomination of a shilling 

 to weigh one pound troy weight, being at the rate of nearly 

 eighty-seven grains and two hundred and seventy-two one- 

 thousandth parts of a grain to each shilling, or piece of the 

 value of one-twentieth part of a pound sterling, and so in pro- 

 portion for pieces of greater or less sterling value. 



EEMEDY. 



3. The remedy, or allowance, made at the trial of the Pyx 

 for fallibility of workmanship, is as follows : — 



Gold— One-sixteenth part of a carat, equal to fifteen troy 

 grains in fineness, and twelve troy grains in weight, in one 

 pound troy weight of gold coin, whether varying above or 

 below the standards of fineness and of weight respectively; 

 being, as regards weight, at the rate of two hundred and fifty- 

 seven one-thousandth parts of a grain on each sovereign or 



