New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-01

verdict drawn MP and signed by the jurors who are
all freemeD of the Goldsmiths Company. aud which
IL published In early issue Of The london Gazette
This verdict, therefore, affords the best possIbe
guarantee 10 the public that the responsible duty
OF Keeping THE country supplied from year TO year
with new coinage quite up 10 IFS legal
standard IS honestly and faithfully carried
out Mt the ROYAL Mint by the Deputy
Master and his officers TO whom IL is furi hermore
quictus for their work during the past twelve
months. The Pyx. from which the trial takes its
name, ~ merely a box IRON Greek word signify
ing n bOXJ in which n deposited certain numb her
Of coins of gold and silver out of each baicl, or
Journey weight 81 they technically termed
at the min a. they day by day manufactured
Something similar to the now annually recurring
trial OF the Pyx was IA vogue IN very early tlnes,
and such trial can be traced back to tie
latter part of the thirteenth century: but a. now
conducted it was not formally instituted until the
reign of Edward III. IN 134j. OF course, 10 those
carry ages the tests were Of much r0ugber char.
acter than those which modern science IS able to
OF so much Importance was this trial considered
in former times that the sovereign himself Occa-
slOnallY presided IN persou-an assistance certainly
not unworthy of the Royal Crown and dignity con-
slderng the Importance of the matter at Issue Tins
the records Of the Excbequer show that IN 1911
Again. IN $50 we find Charles H. the Duke Of York
and Prince Rupert attending the trial. Many emf
nent men of history presided at other times. Thus
for many years. Abbot the Archbishop OF Canter.
bury. presided. Bacon, AZ Chancellor, was Pras,.
dent at the trial IN 1920, aud no doubt took
especial interest in the metallnTg cal Processes To
which he lad himself given much attention In
1884 and IN other years. Land. then Prmate,
presided. During the Common wealth Bradshaw
who signed the death-warrant OF bis Royal master
occasion presided al the trial OF the coinage
from which for time the Kings profile disappeared
Prince Rupert presided alone IN 1873, ana doubt
less took intense interest in the proceedings
proficient in chemistry and well
verSed in science generally. After this
succession Of Chanceilors and Archbshops
attended always by members Of the Pryy
Council, came at inteTvals-these trials. until re-
Gently. having been held only every four or five
years-tO represent the Sovereign Power 0, the
State at the trial Of the Pyx In l716 Archbishop
Wake presided, he being the last ecclesiastical
d lguitary who ever did so. After this. and down
10 the year 1870, the Lord Chancellor tor the tine
being has always presided, win the single exception
that IN 1857 the Right Hon. William Pitt took the
place of Lord ThurlOy
The Coinage Act OF 1870 introduced an annual
trial of the PyX. and under rs atlOns the pro-
ceedngs are now conducted before the Queens
renem bTancer-an anc lent official IF the ExcAcqueT;
and "a function is thus continued which, IN rs
antiquarian and historical bearings, may be said
be OF almost unique interest and value.