"Mr Newton's Memorial concerning the proportion of Gold to Silver in value" Isaac Newton c. 327 words The Newton Project Oxford 2016 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 28 Sep 1701, c. 327 words.

Printed in NC, 4: 373-4.

 "Report of the Officers of the Mint about the preservation of the Coyne" [T 1/80.105] T 1/76.36, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives T 1/76.36 28 Sep 1701 England English Holograph Unknown Hand Mint Analyses of Foreign Coin and Exchange Rates Correspondence Transcribed by Will Scott Metadata amended & document catalogued by Will Scott
36.140139

To the RtRight HonbleHonourable the Lords CommrsCommissioners of his MajtiesMajesties Treasury.

May it please yoryour LordpsLordships

By the late Edicts of the French king for raising the monies in France, the proportion of the value of Gold to that of Silver being altered, I humbly presume to give yoryour LordpsLordships notice thereof. By the last of those Edicts the Lewis d'or passes for fourteen Livres & the Ecus or French crown for three Livres & sixteen sols. At wchwhich rate the Lewis d'or is worth 16s 7d sterling supposing the Ecus worth 4s 6d as it is recconed in the course of exchange & as I have found it by some Assays. The proportion therefore between gold & silver is now become the same in France as it has been in Holland for some years. For at Amsterdam the Lewis d'or passes for nine Guilders & nine or ten styvers wchwhich in our money amounts to 16s 7d & it has past at this rate for the last five or six years.

At the same rate a Guinea of due weight & allay is worth 1li. 00s. 11d.

In Spain Gold is recconed (in stating Accompts) worth sixteen times its weight of silver of the same allay, at wchwhich rate a Guinea of due weight & allay is worth 1li. 2s. 1d, but the Spaniards make their payments in gold & will not pay in silver without an abatement. This abatement is not certain but rises & falls accordingly as Spain is supplied wthwith Gold or Silver from the Indies. Last winter it was about five per cent.

The state of the money in France being unsetled, whether it may afford a sufficient argument for altering the proportion of the values of Gold & Silver monies in England is most humbly submitted to yoryour LordpsLordships great wisdome

Is. Newton.

Mint Office Sept. 28. 1701

Mr Newtons Memorial concerning the proportion of Gold to silver in value.