Holograph draft of <ref target="/catalogue/record/MINT00175">MINT00175</ref> (Mint 19/1/274) Isaac Newton c. 360 words The Newton Project Oxford 2017 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 After 21 August 1710, c. 360 words. Holograph queries about standards of trial plates [MINT 19/1/274] MINT 19/1/242, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives MINT 19/1/242 After 21 August 1710 England English Holograph MintPyx Trials and Analyses of British Coinage Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins Transcribed by Will Scott
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The fineness of gold & silver is generally estimated by the assay & bought & sold by this estimate& bought & sold by this estimate, & gold Gold & silver is bought & sold in silver 24 carats fine & silver 12 ounces fine is reputed fine gold by Assaymasters fully fine. And Trial pieces by law are to be 22 carats fine Gold & two carats ally of allyay & 11 ounces 2dwt of fine silver, & 18dwt of allay

Quære 2 Whether may for this end her MatyMajesty may appoint appointthese and send trial pieces of fine to be made of such fine gold & fine silver as proves just 24 carats or 12 ouncesfine fine upon the assay, & such fine silver as proves just 12 ouncs fine upon the assay, notwithstanding that gold & silver may be refined to by any art by any latenew art be refined to an higher degree? Or what is the standard of fine gold & fine silver according to law?

Quære 34 Whether may for keeping constantly to a standard her MatyMajesty may direct that a parcel piece of so the fine gold & a piece of the fine silver be kept of wchwhich the next trial pieces areshall be made be kept in the Exchequer for determining wthwith more exactness the fineness of the fine gold & fine silver of wchwhich the all trial pieces shall hereafter be made ? from time to time for for the future.

Qaære 1. Whether there should be one common standard of fine gold & one of fine silver in all great Britain for setting a value upon all gold & silver in byuying & selling in coinesing of money & in making of plate & other gold or& silver wares.

Quære 3 Whether a Iury appointed to make Indented standard trial pieces is bounot bound to make them of such fine gold & such fine silver as is fine gold & fine silver according to law even without her MajtsMajestys special direction & notwithstanding that gold or silver may be refined by any new art be refined to an higher degree?