Whereas it hath been humbly represented to Us on the part and behalf of
Our Colony of Virginia that a Currency of Copper Money within the same
Colony would be highly beneficial to Our good Subjects the Inhabitants
thereof for the more easy and convenient making of small Payments; And
Whereas the Treasurer of Our said Colony being thereunto authorized
by an Act of Our Governor Council and Assembly of Our said Colony
passed in the tenth Year of Our Reign[1] hath delivered to the Master
and Worker of Our Mint in Our Tower of London a sufficient quantity
of Fine Copper in Barrs nealed for the Coinage of five Tons of the
Pieces hereinafter mentioned after making the just and usual Allowances
to the Officers of Our Mint; And Whereas Our said Master and Worker
of Our Mint hath in pursuance of Our Warrant for that purpose issued
Coined thereout five Tons of Pieces of Copper Coin of such Weight that
Sixty Pieces thereof are equal to one Pound Weight averdupois without
erring either in excess or defect above one thirtieth part and are of
the value of two shillings and sixpence according to the Currency of
Money in Our said Colony of Virginia And each Piece is Stamped on one
side with Our effigies with the Inscription Georgius III Rex and on the
reverse with the Virginia Arms with the St. Georges Cross leaving out
the escutcheon of Crowns except one Crown at the Top as on the Guinea
without Crest Supporters or Motto except the word Virginia round the
Arms with the date of the Year which are now ready to be exported to
Our said Colony of Virginia.[2] We have thereupon with the Advice of
Our Privy Council thought fit to issue this Our Royal Proclamation
And We do accordingly hereby Ordain declare and Command that the said
Pieces of Copper Money so Coined Stamped and impressed as aforesaid
shall be current and lawful Money of and in Our said Colony of Virginia
and of and within the Districts and precincts of the same and shall
pass and be received therein after the rate following that is to say
Twenty four of the said Pieces shall pass and be received for the Sum
of one shilling according to the Currency of Our said Province of
Virginia and at and after such rate shall be computed accepted and
taken accordingly in all Bargains Rates Payments and other Transactions
of Money; Provided always and We do hereby further declare that no
person shall be obliged to take more than one shilling of such Copper
Money in any one Payment of any Sum of Money under twenty Shillings nor
more than two shillings and sixpence thereof in any one payment of a
larger Sum of Money than twenty shillings;
Given at Our Court at St. James's the Sixteenth day of December 1774
in the Fifteenth Year of Our Reign.