Reply to a query about the engravers' patent Unknown Isaac Newton c. 345 words The Newton Project Oxford 2016 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 12 October 1704, c. 345 words. Treasurer

Date added in Newton's hand.

Printed in NC, 4: 419-20.

Mint engravers alone are permitted to make medals bearing the monarch's image, but such work undertaken for the Crown is quite separate from their Mint duties. These consist solely in making stamps for coins and medals ordered by the government, which are then struck by moneyers. Newton does not, however, disapprove of engravers being allowed to make other medals privately, but suggests they should be required to mark their name or initials on them to distinguish them from Mint pieces. Such work is 'an encouragement to them to improve themselves and to be content with less salaries'.

On reverse: Treasury note dated 16 October 1704: 'My Lord will speak wth the Officers of the Mint'.

 MINT 19/1/172-3, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/1/172-3 12 October 1704 England English Clerical Hand Holograph MintPersonnel and Administration MintCorrespondence Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins Transcribed by Will Scott

To the Rt.Right Hon:bleHonourable the Lord High Treasurer of England

May it please yor.your Lordp.Lordship

A Question being moved about a Clause in the Gravers Patent I humbly beg leave to lay the matter before your Lordship. All persons haveing a liberty to make Medals unless restrained by the Government the Gravers of the Mint have by a clause in their Patent been allowed and all others prohibited to make Medals wthwith the Effigies of yethe King or Queen. And this Place of Medal maker to the Crown has been sometimes encouraged by a large salary out of the Civil List & sometimes granted to strangers and is no part of the constitution of the Mint For by the standing constitution of the Mint the Moneyers coyn whatever the Government wants whether Money Medals or Healing pieces, the metal weight allay & form of the money & medals being first appointed by the King or Queen by the advice of the Council, and the Graver only makes the Stamps. This I take to be the proper way of coyning such Medals as the Government approves of & I am humbly of opinion that no other Medals should be coyned by the Mint The Gravers privilege of makeing other Medals for their private advantage is an encouragement to them to improve themselves and to be content with less salaries. If it be continued they may be obliged to set their names or the first letters thereof on their own Medals to distinguish them from Medals made by the Mint or otherwise limited as your LordpLordship shall think fit, if abrogated they may want some other encouragement to improve themselves & may expect to be paid for the Dyes & Puncheons they make for Medals, Whether it shall be continued & in what manner or be abrogated is most humbly submitted to your Lordships great wisdom

Mint Office Oct. 12 1704.

Is. Newton

172

Mr Newtons Representation concerning the office of Graver of Medalls.

16 Oct 1704 My Lord will speak wthwith the officers of yethe Mint.