The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1884-09-13
TRIAL or THE pyx.



On Thursday, nt Goldsmiths Hall.
took place, in conformity to warrants Of
the orls of tho Treasury, the annual
testing. known as the Tflal Of the Pyx,
OF the national coinage executed by the
Royal Mint during tho past year end,
Ing June 80. At tho first blush tho pro-
ceedings seem 10 have becn OF very sim
pie and buslness.likc nature. A Jury OF
experts having been mpaunelcd, tho gold
was first subjected TO tho customary
ordcals. The aggregate OF gold mntcd
last year was not large being less than
fl.SO0. 900. q sum considerably below
the usual averages but Us n general
withdrawal Of light gold can not much
longer be retarded. the establishment
on Tower Hill has heavy task 10 per-
form. II ~ believed by the authorities
that fl00. 100000 In gold supposed to
be In circulation In this country Is do.
ileent In weight 10 tho extent of five
tons and half, representing half .
million OF money This deficiency IA
duo 10 legitimate wear aud tear. AZ
though, for obvious reasons, the mint,
has been holding its hind 20 far
~ the manufacture Of soycreigns
and hall soyereigns Is concerned. great
activity has been shown In the coinage
OF silver. moneys OF that metal to tho
'amouut OF moro than q million sterling
having been stamped, The total mum.
ber OF imperial coins struck during tho
twelve months was nearly 36,60j, 200.
Some l.s0O sovereigns aud 700 half
sovcreigns. and about f400 worth
Of silver Of all denominations. were
placed In the Pyx last year; and
on the box being opened onithe 10th In
stsnt the jury selected few gold pnsi
silver coins for assay. Each coin had
70 be Of legal-tender weight. and the
coins had next 10 be melted into ingots
for comparison with the pure metal Of
the standard trial plates produced by
the officer Of tie Board Of Trade, TO dis
cover II they were within the legal
remedy" In the way OF fineness. Tho
residue OF the gold mud silver coins had
also 10 10 weighed In bulk. and certain
coins were taken and assayed separate
y. The verdict Of the jurors was duly
signed aud rendered TO tle Queens Re-
membrancer. who a,testing Il BY his
signature, rendered II as public recori Of
the High Court OF Justicd. All tbe del.
icately -man pulated processes inyolsod
In testing and assaylbg hasink bern
gone through. and the Deputy Master
Of the Mint having received his fertiii-
cato or 'qniolus" tho business Q. the
ffy appropriately and cbaractsrlstjcal-
" concluded with . banquet, given by
tve Worsbipful Company Of Gold.mIths,
the high officials connected with our
monetary system.
In olden times the trial ofithe Pyx
took place before the Lords of the
Council, and 4 Is alleged that in : writ
TO the Barons, and ~ Edward l.. the
assay OF the purity and weight VI the
coinage by jury of goldsmlfhs Is
spoken of as q well.known custom.
Every detail OF the CEREMONY N testing
IA grounded on immemorizl irniiiion .
only, in ep tho tr'al beisg inslliulfd
B, warrant from the Treasury, i was
the Lord hanccllor who formerly Is-
sued bis prcccpts 10 tho Warsiens Of the
Goldsm tn 10 impanel Jury. On tho
opening Of the pyx. or box. the uolns 70
be assayed arc found In paper parcels.
each under the seals Of tLe Wardenz,
I've Master Of tho Mint and the Comp
tfol'er From every fifteen pounds
weight Of silver. technically called
ournles." minimum Of TIVE pieces u
taken st hazard for tho trial, and the
coins are then mixed together In wood
on bowls and Afterwards Weighed. Tbs
assaying Of bullion. anciently known ~
tho 'touch"- whence our stu bur
rent word ''ionchstono" with the
function Of marking or s'sme NJ wrs
privilege conferred % the GoldSmIth's .
Com apy by the statute ~. Edward |.
Az matter Of fact. The Gold.miths
have had an assay Office for n,orp than
sg years AID = :. shs 3, statute iuss cited
Of gold and snd . oliver | sss .speetsd o 3 Q!
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