The Hon. Sir C. W. Freemantle, K.C.B., Master of the Royal Mint, has
courteously favoured me with particulars of coinages as specially struck
for the Channel Islands.
As regards the Jersey 3s. token of 1813, and the 1s. 6d. token of the
same date, he says:--
"These were coined at the Royal Mint, under authority from the Committee
of Council on Coins, dated 5th February, 1813.
"L10,000 worth of silver bullion was purchased and coined into tokens of
3s. and 1s. 6d., nominal value. The current value of these coins appears
to have been L11,473 17s. 6d., but there is no information as to the
value of each of the two denominations of coins issued."
The Viscount of Jersey [Le Gros] kindly supplements the above with the
following local information:--
"On the 26th October, 1812, the States, having taken into consideration
the want of specie and of small coin current in the island--a want which
makes itself more and more felt, both amongst the inhabitants and the
troops in garrison--decided to order, with the sanction of Government,
the coinage of a certain quantity of small silver tokens for circulation
in this island. A committee of nine members was named to consider the
amount and value of the coins to be issued, and to enquire into the cost
of such issue.
"The States requested H.E. the Lieut.-Governor Don to consult His
Majesty's Ministers on the matter before proceeding further therein.
"On the 12th December, 1812, a letter from Lord Chetwynd, clerk of the
Privy Council, dated 18th November, 1812, in reply to the
Lieut.-Governor's application, having been read, the States instructed
their Committee to take the necessary steps for the coining and putting
in circulation in the island of small silver coins to the value of not
more than L10,000 of such amounts and design as they may consider most
suitable.
"On the 20th March, 1813, the silver coinage struck at the Royal Mint by
authority of the Lords of the Privy Council for circulation in the
island, being expected to arrive any day, which coins are of the value
some of 3s., some of 1s. 6d., and bear on one side the arms of the
island, and on the other their value--the States instructed their
Committee to take the necessary steps to put these coins into
circulation as soon as they arrive, and the States engaged to take back
the coins at their respective value, whenever it may become necessary,
after having given one month's notice, both by publication in the
several parishes and by advertisements in the local newspapers, to the
holders to bring the coins to the Treasurer of the States, and receive
the amount thereof."
* * * * *
The Viscount of Jersey [Le Gros], in a letter dated Seafield, 19th
October, 1893, further informs me:--
"The result of the issue of these coins was that they were exported in
large quantities--to Guernsey especially, and, I am told, to Canada
also, where they were at a premium, passing, no doubt, as if of the same
value as English coins of the same denominations.
"These coins, or what remained of them in the island, were called in by
the States in 1834, in which year English money was declared the sole
legal tender."