Early Milled Provincial Mintages

[arthurcrown]

Paid a visit to a dealer yesterday and came home with a (not so) shiny silver sixpence, 1697 Chester mint (1st bust, small crowns).

Checking the guide prices I've noticed there is quite a bit of variation between the provincial mints of that year - Bristol, Chester, Exeter and York.

I've searched for mintage figures of early milled coinage but am having trouble finding information on this period. I was wondering if anyone knew roughly how much silver was struck at each of these mints and if that could explain the price difference, either due to initial numbers produced or surviving examples ?

Thanks

[TomGoodheart]

Not my area I'm afraid Arthur. But you might find something in "Some notes on the great recoinage of William III, 1695-1699 " in the British Numismatic Journal?

Eleventh article down, by Philip Nelson:

http://www.britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital%20BNJ/1906.shtml

.

[arthurcrown]

Some pretty useful and interesting reading in that article thanks. Although it doesn't provide a breakdown of the denominations newly struck at the various mints it does show the total weight received by each to recoin in 1697.

From this I can see that Bristol received the most. Judging by current coin prices for 1697 issues, Halfcrowns struck here are slightly less than for the other provincial mints, Shillings about equal and Sixpences almost half that. This I'm guessing shows a large majority of the silver melted down here was re-struck as sixpences, more than anywhere else.

Interestingly though, even though Exeter received only slightly less old silver to re-coin that year, but almost 25% more than the Chester and York Mints, the guide prices for each denomination remain roughly the same.

[TomGoodheart]

I guess the problem is mintages don't tell you much about survival. And obviously there was the further re-coinage in 1816.

I don't know whether there might be anything else in the BJN ... I've not done a proper search. Either way, their archive is a useful asset. Here ... Rob seems to be the man with all the esoteric facts to hand. Not sure if he can add anything but you could pm him?

.

[Peter]

Thanks Richard

A good start.

[arthurcrown]

I've messaged Rob on the subject, thanks

[Rob]

I don't know if if the mint has any records remaining for the period, but you could ask. I haven't got any figures.

I think that by and large the prices reflect the rarity/grade given in Cope & Rayner. It's far more useful than the vague prices given by the guides.

[DaveG38]

I don't know if if the mint has any records remaining for the period, but you could ask. I haven't got any figures.

I think that by and large the prices reflect the rarity/grade given in Cope & Rayner. It's far more useful than the vague prices given by the guides.

You can ask the mint by all means but don't expect a reply this side of doomsday. I asked them several months ago whether they had any records from 1695 regarding the DEI GRATIA halfpenny that appears in the latest Coin News. I had an acknowledgement back, but that was it - I'm still waiting, so if you do ask them don't expect anything quickly.

[Rob]

I've still got half a dozen or more questions waiting for a reply - tomorrow never comes. Basically you might get a reply if it doesn't involve them doing any research, otherwise, forget it.

[arthurcrown]

Hmmmm......Sounds like I've more chance of winning the lottery without even buying a ticket

[Rob]

I suspect there will not be any breakdown of individual denominations to be found. Although the value of of coin struck at the individual mints is known, I am unable to find any indication of apportionment. Roughly 25% of silver coin produced in the period was from the provincial mints. Provincial silver was tried at the pyx of July 9th 1697 and subsequently on Aug 3rd 1699, with all 5 mints passing the audition on both occasions.