Coinage Act 1870

The Coinage Act 1870 (33 & 34 Vict. c. 10) stated the metric weights of British coins. For example, it defined the weight of the sovereign as 7.98805 grams (about 123.27747 grains).[1] The Act was repealed by the Coinage Act 1971.

The Act also vested the title of 'Governor of the Mint of Scotland', which had ceased minting coins in 1707, to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

A contemporary history suggests that the Act was influenced by the criticisms of George Frederick Ansell.[2]

See also

References

  1. Lisle, George, Accounting in Theory and Practice, 1906, republished by Read Books 2008 (ISBN 1-4097-7128-8, ISBN 978-1-4097-7128-9), p.277 "British Currency: Gold" (Google Books)
  2. Challis, C. E. A new history of the royal mint (1992), quoted in Ansell, George Frederick (1826–1880), chemist and assayer by W. P. Courtney, rev. Robert Brown, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
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