Trial of the Fyx. 13 



Whilst treating of this part of our subject, it will not be 

 out of place to mention that each pound troy of gold is coined 

 into 46^- sovereigns, and that the standard degree of fineness 

 of the coin is twenty-two carat, that is, twenty-two parts fine 

 gold and two parts of alloy, in accordance with the Act 56 

 Geo. 3, c. 68, s. 11. The pound weight of silver is coined 

 into 66 shillings, the same rate being observed with all other 

 denominations of silver money, its standard degree of fineness 

 being eleven ounces two pennyweights of fine silver, and eigh- 

 teen pennyweights of alloy, in pursuance of section 4 of the 

 same Act of Parliament. 



Having thus explained, with, it is hoped, as much distinct- 

 ness as will make the arrangements intelligible, the mode of 

 charging the Mint Pyx-boxes, let us proceed to detail the 

 ceremonial processes intermittently practised for the discharge 

 of their precious contents. 



The repletion of the boxes being officially made known by 

 memorial to the Treasury, the Chancellor of the Exchequer 

 moves Her Majesty in Council, and an Order in Council, 

 appointing an early day for the trial of the Pyx, is the result 

 of this action. The Chancellor of the Exchequer also issues 

 his warrant to , the Comptroller General of the Exchequer, 

 directing that officer to produce, at the specified date, the 

 standard trial plates* and standard weights in the custody of 

 the Exchequer office. Immediately before the trial the Pyx 

 chamber is formally opened by officers of the Treasury and 

 Exchequer, and the plates, removed from their sealed deposi- 

 tories, are forthwith curtailed to a slight extent of their fair 

 proportions, the cuttings being reserved for assay in the 

 manner presently to be mentioned. 



Simultaneously with these proceedings, notice is given by 

 the Treasury to the Lord Chancellor and to the Queen's Remem- 

 brancer of the day of trial. The great law officer next issues 

 a precept to his loving friends- the Wardens of the Mystery of 

 Goldsmiths of the City of London, and requiring* them to 

 nominate a jury of sufficient and able freemen of the com- 

 pany, '*" skilful to judge of and present the faults of the coins, if 

 any be found/' and to be present at the day and hour appointed 

 for their trial. 



When the fell moment has arrived, the various persons 

 whose duty it is to sit in judgment upon the imprisoned coins 

 assemble at the office of the Comptroller General of the 

 Exchequer, in a room appointed for that purpose ; those per- 

 sons, according to a recently published official paper, to which 

 further reference will have to be made presently, comprise 



* For full description of standard plates, vide Intellkctual Obsebyeb, 

 vol. vi., page 82. 



