July 1649: An Act touching the Moneys and Coyns of England.

July, 1649

[17 July, 1649.]

New Coyns of Gold.; Twenty shillings piece.; Ten shillings. Five shillings piece.; Coyns of Silver.; Five shillings piece.; Two shillings sixpence.; Twelve pence.

Whereas the Ordering of Moneys and Coyns, and setting the same at such valuations and prices as shal be thought convenient and necessary, is appropriate and of right belonging to the Soveraign and Supream Authority of this Commonwealth; And the Parliament having resolved to change and alter the former Stamps, Arms, Pictures, with the Motto's, Words, Stiles and Inscriptions in and about the same, and to cause new Coyns of Gold and Silver to be made of several Stamps, Weights and Values, but of one uniform Standard and Allay, to be current within this State and Commonwealth of England; (that is to say) One piece of Gold of the value of Twenty shillings Sterling, to be called, The Twenty shillings piece, stamped on the one side with the Cross, and a Palm and Lawrel, with these words, The Commonwealth of England; and on the other side with the Cross and Harp, with these words, God with us: One other piece of Gold money of Ten shillings, to be called, The Ten shillings piece: and one other piece of Gold money of Five shillings, to be called, The Five shilings piece, with the same Words, Inscriptions, Pictures and Arms on each side, as the former: And for Silver moneys, pieces of five shillings, and pieces of two shillings and six pence, and pieces of Twelve pence, and pieces of Six pence, having the same Words, Inscrpitions, Pictures and Arms on each side as the former; Also pieces of Two pence, and One peny, having the same Pictures and Arms as the former, without any Words or Inscriptions; and the Half peny having on the one side a Cross, and on the other side a Harp: All which several Coyns of Gold and Silver, the Parliament doth hereby Enact, Declare, Publish and Authorize to be amongst others heretofore used, the Moneys current for this State and Commonwealth of England, to be used and received by all the People of this Nation, in all Receipts and Payments, and in all maner of Traffiquing, Bargaining and Dealing between man and man, at the several rates and values contained in the Schedule or Table hereunto annexed, expressing their true Values and Weights, according to the Accompt of the Mint within the Tower of London.

Memorandum, Twelve Ounces makes a pound weight Troy; Twenty peny-weight makes an Ounce; Twenty four Grains make a peny weight; Twenty Mites makes a Grain; Twenty four Droits makes a Mite; Twenty Perits makes a Droit; Twenty fur Blanks makes a Perit.