The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-05-21 00:00:00

ALTERATION IN THE COINAGE.
(Franz the "London Gazette.")
By The QUEEN.—A PROCLAMATION.
VICTORIA, R.

Whereas by an Act passed in the thirty-third year
of our reign, intituled "An Act to consolidate and
amend the law relating to the Coinage and Her
Majesty's Mint," it is among other things enacted,
That We, by and with the advice of our Privy
Council, shall from time to time by Proclamation
determine the design for any coin.
We have, therefore, thought fit to order that
certain of the coins made at the Mint, mentioned in
the first schedule to the aforesaid act of the weight
and fineness specified in that schedule, shall bear
designs as follows :
That every Five Pound Piece should have for the
obverse impression our effigy, with the inscription
"Victoria D. G. Britt: Beg: F. D.," and for the
reverse the image of Saint George, armed sitting on
horseback, attacking the Dragon with a sword, and a
broken spear upon the ground, and the date of the
year, and with a graining upon the edge ; and that every
Two Pound Piece should have the same obverse and
reverse impression and inscription in all respects
as the Five Pound Piece, with a graining upon the
edge; and that every sovereign should have the same
obverse and reverse impressions and inscription in all
respects as the Five Pound Piece, with a graining upon
the edge; and that every Half Sovereign should have
for the obverse impression the aforesaid effigy, with
the inscription "Victoria Dei Gratia," and for the
reverse the ensigns armorial of the United Kingdom
contained in a garnished shield surmounted by the
Royal Crown, with the inscription "Britanniarutn
Regina Fid : Def : " and the date of the year, with a
graining upon the edge; and that every crown should
have the same obverse and reverse impression and
inscription in all respects as the five pound piece,
with a graining upon the edge; and that every
half-crown should have for the obverse impression
the aforesaid effigy, with the inscription "Victoria Dei
Gratia," and for the reverse the ensigns armorial of
the United Kingdom contained in a plain shield sur-
rounded by the Garter, bearing the motto " Honi soit
qui rnal y pense," and the Collar of the Garter, with
the inscription " Britanniarum Regina Fid : Def : "
and the date of the year, 7ith a graining upon
the edge; and that every florin, should have for
the obverse impression the aforesaid effigy, with
the inscription "Victoria Dei Gratia," and for the
reverse the ensigns armorial of the United King-
dom contained in four shields arranged cross-
wise, each shield crowned, and between the shields
four sceptres surmounted by orbs, a thistle, and a harp,
and a Star of the Garter in the centre, with the in-
scription, " Britt : Reg : Fid : Def : " and the date of
the year, with a graining upon the edge; and that
every shilling should have for the obverse impression
the aforesaid effigy, with the inscription "Victoria dei
Gratis Britt: Regina F.D.," and for the reverse the
ensigns armorial of the United Kingdom, contained
in a plain shield surrounded by the garter bearing the
motto "fiord soit qui mal y pense," and the date of
the year with a graining upon the edge; and that
every sixpence should have the same obverse and re-
verse impression and inscription in all respects as the
shilling, with a graining upon the edge ; and that cer-
tain other pieces of silvir money called "The Queen's
Maunday Monies,' of fourpence, threepence, twopence, '
and one penny, should have for the obverse impression
the aforesaid effigy, with the inscription "Victoria dei
Gratia Britt: Regina F. D.." and for the reverse the
respective figures " 4," "3," "2 " " 1" (according to
the denomination or value of the, piece) in the centre,
with the date of the year placed across the figure, and
encircled by an oak wreath, surmounted by the Royal
Crown, with a plain edge:
And whereas by the aforesaid Act it is also enact-. 4
that it shall be lawful for Us, by and with the advice
of Our Privy Council, from time to time, by Procla-
mation, to determine the denominations of coins to be
-coined at tha Mint, and it is by the said Act provided
that any coin of gold, silver, or bronze, of any other
denomination that that of the coins mentioned in the
first schedule to the aforesaid Act, which is hereafter
coined at the Mint shall be of a weight and fineness
bearing the same proportion to the weight and fineness
specified in that schedule as the denomination of such
coin bears to the denominations mentioned in that
schedule:

We have therefore further thought fit to order
that a new coin, to be called a double-florin, should
be coined, of the standard weight of 349-09090
grains, and of the fineness of thirty-seven-fortieths
fine silver and three-fortieths alloy, and should
pass and be received as current and lawful
mlney of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland at the rate of four shillings, or one-fifth of a
pound; and that every such coin should have the
same obverse and reverse impression and inscription
in all respects as the florin, with a graining upon the
edge.
And, whereas, pieces of money of the above des-
criptions respectively have been coined at Our Mint,
and will be coined there, in pursuance of orders
which We have given for that purpose. We have,
therefore, by and with the advice of Our Privy,
Council, thought fit to issue this Our Royal Procla-
mation ; and We do hereby ordain, declare, and com-
mand that the said pieces of money respectively so
coined and to he coined as aforesaid shall be current
and lawful money of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, and that this, Our Royal Pro-
clamation, shall come into operation on the date
hereof. - _

Given at our Court at Windsor, this thirteenth day
of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty-seven, and in the fiftieth year of
Our reign.