Memorandum concerning the values of English, French and Dutch monies Isaac Newton c. 414 words The Newton Project Oxford 2016 Newton Project, University of Oxford

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 19 Aug 1712, c. 414 words.

Printed in NC, 5: 343-4. Draft in Mint 19/2/172, MINT00314.

 T 1/152.44b, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK UKSurreyKew, RichmondNational Archives T 1/152.44b 19 Aug 1712 England English Holograph Mint Analyses of Foreign Coin and Exchange Rates Correspondence Transcribed by Will Scott Metadata amended & document catalogued by Will Scott
44B182

In the course of Exchange, nine pounds sterling are recconed at a par with 100 Gilders specie money of Holland, or 1li with 11 Gilders 229 styvers. But 1li sterling lately passed in Holland only for 10 Gilders & 9 or 10 Styvers, or at a medium for 10 Gilders 912 styvers. The defect is 121318 Styvers, whereof hHer MajtyMajesty allowed to the forces in Flanders 512 Styvers, wchwhich is almost one half of the defect or loss by the exchange.

The par between English & French money of the new species ais not yet setled by the course of exchange: but by weight & assay I find that an unworn French crown piece of the new species wchwhich passes at Dunkirk & in France for five livres is worth 5s 1d sterling. And at this rate 20s sterling pass at Dunkirk are worth 19 livres 132761 sous. But 20s sterling pass at Dunkirk for only 17 livres. The defect or loss is 2 livres 132761 sous, to be divided between her MatyMajesty & the forces. And as 121318 styvers to 512, so are 2 livres 132761 sous to 1 livre 3 sous, her MajtsMajestys proportional part of the defect: wchwhich added to 17 livres the current value of 20s sterling at Dunkirk, makes her MajtsMajestys allowance for the pound sterling 18 livres 3 sous recconing a French crown new species at 5 livres. But her MatyMajesty may alter the proportion at pleasure & make the allowance in a rounder number. When 9li sterling are recconed at a par with 100 Gilders as above, the specie money of Holland is over-valued by about 314 per cent. For the three Gilder piece unworn is worth only 6234 pence sterling by the weight & assay. And thence 9li sterling are intrinsecally worth about 10314 Gilders. & 1li sterling, wchwhich lately passed at about 10 Gilders 912 stivers, is worth 11 Gilders 949 stivers, & the loss by the exchange is abouet a Gilder whereof her MatyMajesty bare only 4512 stivers, wchwhich is about a quarter of the whole loss. And according to this proportion her MatyMajesty should beare but a quarter of the loss by the exchange at Dunkirk. But the rules of the Exchange where they are setled being generally followed, I presume it might be her MajtsMajestys intention to beare about one half of the loss by the Exchange in Holland, as in the recconing first set down in this paper. Is. Newton