Coin Act 1666

Reasons for passing this Act.

Gold and Silver to be coined gratis. For every Pound Troy of Gold or Silver brought, there is to be delivered a Pound Troy of Current Coin.; For every Pound Troy of Gold and Silver finer than Standard so much more than a Pound Troy delivered; and for baser Gold or Silver so much less.

Whereas it is obvious that the plenty of Current Coynes of Gold and Silver of this Kingdome is of great advantage to Trade and Commerce For the Increase whereof Your Majestie in Your Princely Wisedome and Care hath beene gratiously pleased to beare out of Your Revenue halfe the Charge of the Coynage of Silver money For the preventing of which Charge to your Majestie and the Encouragement of the bringing Gold and Silver into the Realme to be converted into the Current Money of this Your Majestyes Kingdome Wee Your Majestyes Dutyfull and Loyall Subjects doe give and grant unto Your Majesty the Rates Dutyes or Impositions following, And doe beseech Your Majestie that it may be enacted, and bee it enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in this present Parlyament assembled and by the Authoritie of the same That whatsoever person or persons Native or Foreigner Alien or Stranger shall from and after the Twentyeth day of December One thousand six hundred sixty and six bring any Forreigne Coyne Plate or Bullion of Gold or Silver in Masse molten or allayed, or any sort of Manufacture of Gold or Silver into His Majestyes Mint or Mints within the Kingdome of England to be there melted downe and coyned into the current Coynes of this Kingdome shall have the same there assayed melted downe and coyned with all convenient speede without any Defalcation Diminution or Charge for the Assaying Coynage or Waste in Coynage Soe as that for every pound Troy of Crowne or Standard Gold that shall be brought in and delivered by him or them to be assayed melted downe and coyned as aforesaid there shall be delivered out to him or them respectively a pound Troy of the current Coynes of this Kingdome of Crowne or Standard Gold, And for every pound Troy of Sterlin or Standard Silver that shall be brought in and delivered by him or them to be assayed melted downe and coyned as aforesaid there shall be delivered out to him or them respectively a pound Troy of the current Coynes of this Kingdome of Sterlin or Standard Silver and soe proportionably for a greater or lesser weight. And for every pound Troy of Gold or Silver that shall be brought in and delivered to be assayed melted downe and coyned as aforesaid that shall be finer upon essay then Crowne Gold or Standard Silver there shall be delivered for the same soe much more then a pound Troy as the same doth in proportion amount unto in finenes and value, And for every pound Troy of Gold or Silver that shall be brought in and delivered to be assayed melted downe and coyned as aforesaid that shall be courser or baser upon essay or worse in value then Crowne Gold or Standard Silver there shall be delivered for the same soe much lesse then a pound Troy as the same doth fall short in finenes or value and soe for a greater or lesser quantity.