specific Gravity, and comparative Wear of Gold. 137 
country, by insulated experiments on the specific gravity of a few 
pieces ; for, a certain variation in the specific gravity of coin, 
independent of any alteration in its real value, is almost, if not 
absolutely, unavoidable. 
Specific Gravity of some of the English gold Coins, at Tem- 
perature 6o° of Fahrenheit. 
Table IV. 
Reign. 
Charles II. a five-guinea piece - 
James II. a two-guinea piece 
William III. a five-guinea piece 
George I. a quarter-guinea 
George II. a guinea 
a two-guinea piece 
George III. one guinea 
one guinea - 
one guinea 
one guinea 
one guinea - - 
one guinea 
one guinea - 
one guinea 
one guinea - 
five guineas 
ten half-guineas 
13 seven-shilling pieces* 
Date. 
Specific gravity. 
l68l 
17,825. 
- 1687 
1 7 . 634 - 
3701 
17,710. 
3718 
16,894. 
1 735 
1 7 > 6 37 - 
1740 
17,848. 
1761 
17 * 737 - 
1766 
1 7 > 6 ~ 55 - 
1 774 » 
17,726. 
- 1775 
17,698. 
1776 
17,486. 
*777 
17750 . 
3 782 
17,202. 
- 3786 
17.465- 
3788 
17,418. 
' , 1793 
17.712- 
3 801 
17 . 750 . 
3 802 
1 7 . 793 - 
* Supposing guineas, half-guineas, and seven-shilling pieces, to be made from the 
same metal, there is reason to expect (in a given comparative sum of each) an increase 
of specific gravity in the smaller coins, as a natural consequence of rolling, punching, 
annealing, blanching, milling, and stamping, the effects of which must become more 
evident, in proportion to the number of the small pieces required to form a given sum 
of the larger coins. 
The average specific gravity of our gold coin, at the present time, may probably be 
estimated at 17,724. 
MDCCCIII. 
T 
