Coin Act 1666

II. Coined Money to be given out in turn and course without Preference.

Making undue Preference, by Officer ; Penalty and Loss of Office; by Deputy; Penalty and Incapacity.

And it is hereby further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That there shall be noe preference in point of Assaying or Coynage, but that all Gold and Silver brought in and delivered into the Mint to be assayed and coyned shall be assayed coyned and delivered out to the respective Importers according to the order and times of bringing in and delivering the same into the Mint or Mints and not otherwise, Soe as he that shall first bring in and deliver any Gold or Silver to be coyned shall be taken and accounted the first person to have the same assayed coyned and delivered, And he or they that shall bring in and deliver any Gold or Silver next, to be accounted the second person to have the same assayed coyned and delivered and soe successively in course, And that the Gold and Silver brought in and coyned as aforesaid shall be in the same order delivered to the respective bringers in thereof their Executors Administrators or Assignes successively without preference of one before the other and not otherwise And if any undue preference be made in entring of any Gold or Silver or delivering out of any money coyned contrary to the true intent and meaning of this Act by any Officer or Officers of the Mint or Mints then the partie or partyes offending shall be lyeable by Action of Debt or in the Case to pay the value of the Gold or Silver brought in and not entred and delivered according to the true intent meaning and direction of this Act as aforesaid with Damages and Costs to the partie or partyes greived and shall be forejudged from his or their Place or Office, And if such preference be unduely made by any his or their Deputie or Deputyes Clerke or Clerks without direction or privity of his or their Master or Masters then such Deputie or Deputyes Clerke or Clerks onely shall be lyeable to such Action Damage and Costs as aforesaid and be for ever Acter uncapeable of serveing or bearing Office in any Mint in the Kingdome of England.