Frazer — On Testoons of Henry VIII., 8^c. 
159 
estoons without the Eoyal Warrant. Such is a brief statement of an 
obscure and interesting episode in the records of British IS'umis- 
latics. 
It followed, as a matter of course, that as soon as a public statement 
Fas made that these coins were illegal, anyone holding them would be 
saclined to have them destroyed, especially, as if discovered, their 
swner might be suspected of sympathy with the attached Lord 
oeymour. 
In addition to this, we know that base silver coins must necessarily 
rop out of circulation from their complete worthlessness for trade 
lurposes. "Whatever be the cause, the fact is certain, such testoons 
re exceptionally scarce ; it was therefore with some interest I obtained 
series of good specimens for my cabinet. Their possession induced 
ae to investigate the literature bearing on their history, and on corre- 
sponding with the authorities in the British Museum, and some of the 
t reat private collectors in England, I ascertained that I was in posses- 
on of three different issues, distinguished by variations in the inscrip- 
ons on the obverse of the coins, that is around the King's portrait, 
laly two of which had been previously recognised and described. I 
tad, therefore, the gratification of obtaining fine specimens of an 
(xtremely rare English coin for my cabinet, and, further, of being able 
) place on record a new and previously unknown type. 
The different inscriptions, as will be seen from the drawings and 
ains shown to the Academy, read as follows :— 
I^GCRBia 8 D 6 TVRG ERTTRG Z HIB EGCX 
l^GCnRia 8 D 6 TVRGL ERT^ HIB EGCX 
i^anEia 8 d 6 ttrgligc eett hib egcx 
Of the varieties already described, one is distinguished by a Fleur- 
oAu after the abbreviated word T^RG, and the succeeding word 
I'ETOCC is pretty fully given. The second variety has ARUL, 
allowed by a Cinquefoil and EE7T abbreviated. The last piece, which 
as heretofore not been noticed, has T^RGLIGC in full, followed by 
ae Cinquefoil. Of this coin, the British Museum contains no example, 
ad so far as I can ascertain, it is not found in any known private 
iibinet. Its special claim to be brought before this Academy lies in 
le fact that it was fabricated at the Bristol Mint by the Mint Master, 
harington, to whom we are indebted for the Base Irish coinage 
sued by Henry YIII., and which was probably continued to be 
TUck by him during the first years of Edward the Sixth's reign. 
