GB 0096 MS 62 - Proposals concerning the English coinage

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0096 MS 62

Title

Proposals concerning the English coinage

Date(s)

  • 1695-1696 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

1 volume containing 45 leaves

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, control of the major aspects of English coinage passed from the Crown to Parliament. Charles Montagu, Chancellor of the Exchequer, solicited advice from a selection of eminent persons on solutions to the poor state of the silver coinage, 1695-1696.

Archival history

The manuscript proposals were originally bound together with printed material on the same subject which may now be found in the Goldsmiths' Library (see GL 3119, 3302, 3101, 3116, 3088, 5485). This manuscript contains the bookplate of Stanley Alchorne, and was probably bought in 1813 to form part of the library of George Chalmers which was sold in 1842. It was was bought by Herbert Somerton Foxwell at the Crossley sale, Sotheby's, in 1884.
GB 0096 MS 62 1695-1696 Collection (fonds) 1 volume containing 45 leaves Unknown
After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, control of the major aspects of English coinage passed from the Crown to Parliament. Charles Montagu, Chancellor of the Exchequer, solicited advice from a selection of eminent persons on solutions to the poor state of the silver coinage, 1695-1696.

The manuscript proposals were originally bound together with printed material on the same subject which may now be found in the Goldsmiths' Library (see GL 3119, 3302, 3101, 3116, 3088, 5485). This manuscript contains the bookplate of Stanley Alchorne, and was probably bought in 1813 to form part of the library of George Chalmers which was sold in 1842. It was was bought by Herbert Somerton Foxwell at the Crossley sale, Sotheby's, in 1884.

Part of the Goldsmith's Library of Economic Literature, initially collected by Herbert Somerton Foxwell and presented by the Goldsmith's Company to the University of London in 1903.

Manuscript volume containing transcripts of various proposals concerning the reformation of the coinage, 1695-1696, made in response to a request by the Exchequer for views on ideas discussed in A report...for the amendment of the silver coins (1695) by William Lowndes, Permanent Secretary of the Treasury. Comprising papers on the coinage by Sir Christopher Wren, Dr John Locke, Gilbert Heathcote, Alderman [Francis] Gardner, [Rev] Samuel Pratt [Dean of Rochester], [William] Corbet, Sir John Houblon, Dr John Wallis, Dr Isaac Newton, and William James, with further treatises entitled 'A merchant's demonstration superior to imagination, that the raising of bullion cannot be anyways injurious but highly advantageous to these three kingdoms above all others', and 'Some considerations offered to the House of Commons in relation to mending the coyne'. A note written in 1963 by E S de Beer regarding several of the items described above is inserted into the manuscript.

Single item.

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
English
Small manuscript quarto. Bound in morocco.

Collection level description.

This manuscript was originally bound together with several works from the Goldsmith's Library (GL 3119, 3302, 3101, 3116, 3088, 5485). Other University of London manuscripts relating to the Royal Mint and coinage include MSS 14, 21, 51, 72, 100, 102, 108, 151, 152 and 499.

The Bodleian Library, Oxford University, holds drafts of the proposals written by John Locke (Ref: MS Locke b3, ff 55-61, 66-69, and 70-74).

The proposals written by Wren, Locke and Newton have been published in Ming-hsn Li The great recoinage of 1696-1699 (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1963). Locke's two proposals form the basis of his work Further considerations concerning raising the value of money (A. and J. Churchill: London, 1695). This manuscript was used in the writing of The Mint (Cambridge University Press, 1953) by Sir John Craig.

Compiled by Sarah Smith as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. ISAD(G) 2nd edition, and NCA rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names (1997). Jul 2000 Antiquities Arts Coinage Corbet , William , fl 1695-1696 England Europe Finance Financial policy Financial resources Gardner , Francis , fl 1695-1696 , Alderman Heathcote , Sir , Gilbert , 1651-1733 , Knight , Mayor of London Houblon , Sir , John , fl 1695-1696 , Knight James , William , fl 1695-1696 Locke , John , 1632-1704 , philosopher Lowndes , William , 1652-1724 , Secretary to the Treasury Monetary policy Money Newton , Sir , Isaac , 1642-1727 , Knight , physicist and mathematician Pratt , Samuel , c 1658-1723 , Canon of Windsor and Dean of Rochester Royal Mint UK Wallis , John , 1616-1703 , mathematician Western Europe Works of art Wren , Sir , Christopher , 1632-1723 , Knight , architect London Movable cultural property Cultural property Cultural heritage

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Part of the Goldsmith's Library of Economic Literature, initially collected by Herbert Somerton Foxwell and presented by the Goldsmith's Company to the University of London in 1903.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Manuscript volume containing transcripts of various proposals concerning the reformation of the coinage, 1695-1696, made in response to a request by the Exchequer for views on ideas discussed in A report...for the amendment of the silver coins (1695) by William Lowndes, Permanent Secretary of the Treasury. Comprising papers on the coinage by Sir Christopher Wren, Dr John Locke, Gilbert Heathcote, Alderman [Francis] Gardner, [Rev] Samuel Pratt [Dean of Rochester], [William] Corbet, Sir John Houblon, Dr John Wallis, Dr Isaac Newton, and William James, with further treatises entitled 'A merchant's demonstration superior to imagination, that the raising of bullion cannot be anyways injurious but highly advantageous to these three kingdoms above all others', and 'Some considerations offered to the House of Commons in relation to mending the coyne'. A note written in 1963 by E S de Beer regarding several of the items described above is inserted into the manuscript.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Single item.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

This manuscript was originally bound together with several works from the Goldsmith's Library (GL 3119, 3302, 3101, 3116, 3088, 5485). Other University of London manuscripts relating to the Royal Mint and coinage include MSS 14, 21, 51, 72, 100, 102, 108, 151, 152 and 499.

Finding aids

Collection level description.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

The Bodleian Library, Oxford University, holds drafts of the proposals written by John Locke (Ref: MS Locke b3, ff 55-61, 66-69, and 70-74).

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Senate House Library, University of London

Rules and/or conventions used

ISAD(G) 2nd edition, and NCA rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names (1997).

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area