AN IMPROVED RECEPTACLE FOR GOLD AND SILVER OR OTHER
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hancock, of Birchwood, near Alfreton, in
the County of Derby, Colliery Manager and Coal Merchant, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED RECEPTACLE FOR GOLD AND SILVER OR OTHER
Sealed the 29th August 1863, and dated the 6th March 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hancock at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
March 1868.
I, THOMAS HANCOCK, of Birchwood, near Alfreton, in the County of Derby,
Colliery Manager and Coal Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED RECEPTACLE FOR GOLD AND SILVER OR OTHER
COINS," to be as follows:-
This receptacle may be in the form of a cash box or other form, and it
consists of two halves or parts, the line of junction of which lies across the
centre of the coins to be deposited therein; each half of the receptacle is
divided into any number of divisions in such manner that one or more
divisions, say in the lower receptacles, shall be of such length that each
division may contain a desired number of sovereigns or other coin, say five, for
example, or more or less, or a proportionate number of half-sovereigns or other
coin; a number of other divisions are of such length that ten, fifteen, or
twenty or other required number may be put in each such division. The

page_text: divisions are of precisely such length that only the indicated number of coins
can be placed therein. There are also other divisions for receiving loose or
uncounted change. In order that the divisions may allow of new or old coins
being placed within them, one end of each division or separate receptacle may
be slightly moveable end wise, but only to the extent of the difference between
five, ten, fifteen, or twenty, or any other number of new or old coins.
Between the moveable end of one division and the fixed end of the next is a
metal, india-rubber, or other spring. When the upper half of the receptacle
is closed down upon the lower half and secured thereto by locking or other-
wise, none of the coins, except the loose or unconnected coins, can be shaken
loose or displaced, the upper half of the receptacle being an exact counterpart
of the lower one.
The use of this Invention will save time to clerks in banks and other
commercial houses, as it obviates the necessity of counting money more than
once, for at the time of receiving the money it is at once placed in an appro-
priate division or divisions within the receptacle according to the size, number,
and quality of the coins. And when certain sums of money have to be paid
away, the coins may be taken from such division of the receptacle as shall
correspond with the sum required to be paid without the trouble of counting
the coins, and with reliable accuracy.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Hancock in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th September 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
HANCOCK, of Birchwood, near Alfreton, in the County of Derby, Colliery
Manager and Coal Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Hancock, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Hancock, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Thomas Hancock, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully

page_text: might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN IMPROVED RECEPTACLE FOR GOLD AND SILVER OR OTHER COINS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Hancock, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Hancock, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to an improved receptacle for gold, silver, or other
coins. My improved receptacle may be made in the form of a cash box or
other form, and consists of two halves or parts, the line of the junction of
which lies across the centre of the coins to be deposited therein, each such
half or part of the receptacle is divided into any number of divisions in such
manner that one or more of such divisions, say, the divisions in the lower half
or part, is of such length that each division may contain a desired number of
sovereigns or other coin, say, by way of example, five sovereigns, or a pro-
portionate number of half-sovereigns or other coins; a number of other
divisions are of such length that ten, fifteen, or twenty, or other required or
determined number of coins may be put in each such division, which said
divisions I sometimes provide with a metal, india-rubber, or other spring;
these divisions are of precisely such length that only the intended number of
coins can be placed therein. There are also other divisions for receiving loose
coins or uncounted change. And in order that the divisions may allow of new
or old coins being placed within them, one end of each division or separate
compartment may be slightly moveable endwise, but only to the extent of the
difference that may exist between, say, five, ten, fifteen, twenty, or any other
number of new, old, or worn coins. Between the moveable end of one
division or separate compartment and the fixed end of the next compart-
ment I place a metal, india-rubber, or other spring. I make the whole
receptacle of wood, metal, papier maché, or other convenient material. When
the upper half or part of the receptacle is closed down upon the lower half or

page_text: part and secured thereto by locking or otherwise, none of the coins therein,
except the loose change or uncounted coins in their division or compartment
before mentioned can be shaken loose or displaced, the upper half of the
receptacle being an exact counterpart of the lower one.
The use of this Invention will save time to clerks in banks and other 5
commercial houses, and in government, legal, and other establishments, as it
obviates the necessity of counting money more than once, for at the time of
receiving cash it is at once conveniently placed in an appropriate or suitable
division or divisions, or compartment or compartments, within the receptacle
according to the size, number, and quality of the coins; and when certain 1
sums of money have to be paid away these required coins may be taken from
such compartment or division of the receptacle as shall correspond with the
sum required to be paid, and this will be done with reliable accuracy and
without having the trouble of counting the coins.
Having thus set forth the nature of my said Invention, I now proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same, with reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents the whole of the lower half of my improved
cash box or receptacle, showing the lid opened at right angles to the lower s
half of the receptacle, a portion of the lid is broken off; Figure 2, Sheet 1, is
a sectional view of the box or receptacle looking from one end thereof, the lid
or upper half of the box or receptacle is shown as plain, and shuts down upon
the coins placed in each division of the receptacle; but in some of my
improved receptacles I also divide the lid or upper half thereof into as many
divisions or compartments as shall correspond to the divisions or compartments
in the lower half of the box or receptacle; Figure 3, Sheet 2, represents a
modification of my improved coin receptacle.
The part A of the lower half of the box or receptacle is divided to receive
any stated number of coins; and the part B is formed to receive loose cash or
coins or other valuables; part of the lid or upper half of the box or receptacle
is provided with a padded lid C, attached by hinges or equivalent contrivances
to one side or end of the upper lid, so that when the lid is opened the inner
padded lid may be raised and access obtained to a pocket on the inside of
such lid, and also to a space in which bank notes or other valuable papers
may be deposited, the remaining portion (D) of the lid is recessed, so as to
receive the upper part of the division or divisions in the receptacle for loose

page_text: coins or other valuables; the padded lid is placed at such a depth within the
lid of the receptacle that when the receptacle is closed the padded parts
slightly press upon the cash or coins in the compartment A.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim a receptacle for
coins arranged and combined in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Hancock, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Patent Office,
Nottingham.
THOMAS HANCOCK. (L.B.)