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diff --git a/29157.txt b/29157.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4acfc0c --- /dev/null +++ b/29157.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2304 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Coinages of the Channel Islands, by B. Lowsley + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Coinages of the Channel Islands + +Author: B. Lowsley + +Release Date: June 18, 2009 [EBook #29157] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COINAGES *** + + + + +Produced by Steven Gibbs, Woodie4 and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + THE COINAGES + OF THE + CHANNEL ISLANDS. + + BY + + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL B. LOWSLEY, + + ROYAL ENGINEERS (RETD.). + + + Author of Contributions on "The Coins and Tokens of Ceylon" (_Numismatic + Chronicle, Vol. XV._); "The XVIIth Century Tokens of Berkshire" + (_Williamson's Edition of Boyne's XVIIth Century Tokens_); "Berkshire + Dialect and Folk Lore, with Glossary" (_the Publication of the English + Dialect Society_), &c., &c., &c. + + London: + VICTORIA PRINTING WORKS, + 118 STANSTEAD ROAD, FOREST HILL, AND 15 KIRKDALE, SYDENHAM. + + 1897. + + + + + INDEX. + + PAGE + + GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON COINAGES FOR THE CHANNEL + ISLANDS 1 + + THE EARLIEST COINS OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS 4 + + ROMAN COINS IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS 7 + + ON EARLY IMPORTED COINS AND THEIR VALUES 9 + + THE COATS OF ARMS OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS 26 + + THE JERSEY SILVER TOKENS OF 1813 28 + + COPPER AND BRONZE COINAGES OF JERSEY FROM 1841 30 + + ON GUERNSEY COINS FROM THE MIDDLE AGES 33 + + COPPER AND BRONZE COINAGES OF GUERNSEY FROM 1830 37 + + SILVER COUNTERMARKED GUERNSEY CROWN 38 + + CHANNEL ISLANDS COPPER TOKENS 39 + + SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 40 + + + + +The Coinages of the Channel Islands. + +BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL B. LOWSLEY, (Retired) Royal Engineers. + + Author of Contributions on "The Coins and Tokens of Ceylon" + (_Numismatic Chronicle_, _Vol. XV._); "The XVIIth Century Tokens of + Berkshire" (Williamson's Edition of Boyne's XVIIth Century Tokens); + "Berkshire Dialect and Folk Lore, with Glossary" (the Publications + of the English Dialect Society), &c., &c., &c. + + + + +GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON COINAGES FOR THE CHANNEL ISLANDS. + + +Before treating of the Channel Islands coinages in detail, it may be of +interest briefly to notice in order the various changes and the +influences which led to these. + +The earliest inhabitants of the islands of whom anything is known were +contemporaneous with the ancient Britons of Druidical times. Jersey and +Guernsey are still rich in Druidical remains. The Table-stone of the +Cromlech at Gorey is 160 feet superficial, and the weight, as I have +made it, after careful calculation, is about 23-3/4 tons. It rests on +six upright stones, weighing, on an average, one ton each. In the very +complete work recently edited by E. Toulmin Nicolle[A] is the following +interesting note:-- + +"That traces of the old Northmen, which were once obscure, have now +become clear and patent; that institutions, long deemed Roman, may be +Scandinavian; that in blood and language there are many more foreign +elements than were originally recognized, are the results of much +well-applied learning and acumen. But no approximation to the proportion +that these foreign elements bear to the remainder has been obtained; +neither has the analysis of them gone much beyond the discovery of +those which are referred to Scandinavia. Of the tribes on the mainland, +those which in the time of Caesar and in the first four centuries of our +era have the best claim to be considered as the remote ancestors of the +early occupants of the islanders, are the Curiosilites, the Rhedones, +the Osismii, the Lemovices, the Veneti, and the Unelli--all mentioned by +Caesar himself, as well as by writers who came after him. A little later +appear the names of the Abrincatui and the Bajucasses. All these are +referable to some part of either Normandy or Brittany, and all seem to +have been populations allied to each other in habits and politics. They +all belonged to the tract which bore the name of Armorica, a word which +in the Keltic means the same as Pomerania in Sclavonic--_i.e._, the +country along the seaside." + +[A] "The Channel Islands." By the late David Thomas Ansted, M.A., and +the late Robert Gordon Latham, M.A. Revised and Edited by E. Toulmin +Nicolle. Published by W. H. Allen and Co., 13, Waterloo Place, London. + +All evidences that can be gathered would tend to prove that before the +time of the Romans the Channel Islands were but thinly populated. There +are no traces of decayed large towns nor records of pirate strongholds, +and the conclusion is that the inhabitants were fishermen, and some +living by hunting and crude tillage. The frequent Druidical remains show +the religion which obtained. Any coins in use in those days would be +Gaulish, of the types then circulated amongst the mainland tribes above +named. + +The writer of the foregoing notes considers that the earliest history of +the Channel Islands is as follows (page 284):-- + +"1. At first the occupants were Bretons--few in number--pagan, and +probably poor fishermen. + +"2. Under the Romans a slight infusion of either Roman or Legionary +blood may have taken place--more in Alderney than in Jersey--more in +Jersey than in Sark. + +"3. When the Litus Saxonicum was established, there may have been +thereon lighthouses for the honest sailor, or small piratical holdings +for the corsair, as the case might be. There were, however, no emporia +or places either rich through the arts of peace, or formidable for the +mechanism of war. + +"4. When the Irish Church, under the school of St. Columbanus, was in +its full missionary vigour, Irish missionaries preached the Gospel to +the islanders, and amongst the missionaries and the islanders there may +have been a few Saxons of the Litus. + +"5. In the sixth century some portion of that mixture of Saxons, Danes, +Chattuarii, Leti, Goths, Bretons, and Romanized Gauls, whom the Frank +kings drove to the coasts, may have betaken themselves to the islands +opposite. + +"To summarise--the elements of the population nearest the Channel +Islands were:--(1) original Keltic; (2) Roman; (3) Legionary; (4) Saxon; +(5) Gothic; (6) Letic; (7) Frank; (8) Vandal--all earlier than the time +of Rollo, and most of them German; to which we may add, as a possible +element, the Alans of Brittany. + +"That the soldiers of the Roman garrison were not necessarily Roman is +suggested by the word "Legionary." Some of them are particularly stated +to have been foreign. There is indeed special mention of the troop of +cavalry from Dalmatia--"Equites Dalmatae." + +The inference from the above, as regards coins current in the Channel +Islands prior to the Norman conquest of England, would clearly be that, +subsequent to the circulation of the first uninscribed Gaulish coins as +imitated from the Phillippus types, there followed the well-struck Roman +issues, which, in course of time, were superseded by the coinages used +and introduced by later invaders and settlers. + +British-struck coins of the Saxon kings are rarely found in the Channel +Islands, the coins used at the Saxon period of England being doubtless +drawn by these islands from Normandy and Brittany. There have never, so +far as is known, been regal or state mints established in the Channel +Islands, with the exception of the strange venture by Colonel Smyth in +the reign of King Charles I., which will be fully noted in turn +hereafter. + +"Freluques" and "enseignes" also perhaps appear to have been struck in +Guernsey, and a few copper tokens, as will be described, were introduced +by banks and firms. But from the time of the Romans until the present +century, French and other foreign money has been imported, and formed +the recognized currency. + + + + +THE EARLIEST COINS OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS + + +As referred to in the preceding general notes, the earliest coins known +to have been in use in the Channel Islands are of the same types as used +at the time on the near coast of France. They are styled Gaulish, and +are generally of the following description:-- + +_O._ Sinister head in profile; nose, lips, eyes, and ears expressed by +duplicate lines; tracery or ornamentation in front of the face, and +profuse rolls of curling hair. + +_R._ Figure of a horse, extravagantly drawn and decorated, and with +ornaments or gear of some kind above and below. Often the mane of the +horse is arranged and curled, as if specially so dressed for parade or +show, and almost suggests decorations as still sometimes adopted by +American Indian or other barbarian chiefs. There are reins, too, in some +instances, and these are sometimes held by a rough representation of an +arm and hand. The legs of the horse always indicate gallopping. The +symbols underneath it are usually either (1) the wild boar, as perhaps +indicative of the most important local wild beast in the chase; (2) the +chariot wheel, as representing that the horse would draw this vehicle, +there not being room to show the whole on the coin fully and in rear of +the horse; (3) the implement described by Sir John Evans[B] as a +"lyre-shaped object." It would be most interesting to ascertain what +this instrument--which is frequently delineated--may really be. It might +be a musical production of the bagpipe character, or a head-dress, or a +warlike weapon. An extensive museum or collection of very ancient +implements should solve the problem. + +[B] "The Coins of the Ancient Britons." By Sir John Evans, K.C.B., +F.S.A., F.G.S. Published by J. Russell Smith, 36, Soho Square, London. + +As regards the metal of which the coins are made, Sir John Evans, at +page 128 of his work, states as follows:-- + +"These coins are formed of _billon_ or base silver, which appears to +vary considerably in the amount of its alloy. From an analysis made by +De Caylus (Donop. Medailles Gallo Gaeeliques, page 24) of two coins, +their compositions were found to be as follows:-- + + A. B. + + Silver .0413 .1770 + Copper .8414 .7954 + Tin .1166 .0265 + Iron .0005 .0009 + Gold .0002 .0002 + ------ ------ + 1.0000 1.0000 + +"The weight of the larger pieces ranges from 80 to 105 grains, and that +of the smaller coins is about 25 grains." + +It will be observed from the above analysis how considerably the +proportions of the white metals, as silver and tin, vary in these coins, +and this variation, as regards metallic composition, is so universal +that amongst a large number in the same "find" you will even, on +cleaning the coins, see some of them look as if made of silver, and the +colour vary, until you reach some that appear hardly better than wholly +of copper. It would be very interesting to know where the metal or ore +for these coinages was procured from. There must have been a natural +mixture of most of the metals. + +I have looked through a "find" of more than 200 Jersey Gaulish coins, +which are in the possession of R. R. Lempriere, Esq. They were turned up +by the plough on his manor of Rozel; and whatever covering had enclosed +them had either gone to decay, or become broken up, as they were quite +loose. He had cleaned a few of them. Even to the eye the metallic +composition varied greatly--some being of the colour of silver, and some +lowering to that of copper. In this lot there were but two of the +smaller size of 25 grains, and I think that proportion may perhaps give +some indication as to the relative rarity of the two coins; for at a +rough estimate one seems to meet only about one in a hundred, which is +of the smaller kind. The larger Gaulish coins are common; large "finds" +of the types formerly used in the Channel Islands having been made on +the adjacent mainland of Normandy and Brittany, and also on the south +coast of England. + +Sir John Evans mentions (page 128) the hoard at Mount Batten, near +Plymouth (_Numismatic Journal_, Vol. I., page 224), and that in the +_Arch. Assoc. Journal_, Vol. III., page 62, is an account of a find of +them at Avranches, written by Mr. C. Roach Smith; also in 1820 nearly +1,000 were discovered in Jersey; and previously, in 1787, there had been +a find in that island. The manor of Rozel seems to have been most rich +in furnishing specimens. In addition to the number in possession of the +seigneur of Rozel, as before referred to, there are from that district +of the island collections at the St. Helier Museum, and with Lady +Marett, Wm. Nicolle, Esq., Dr. Le Cronier, E. C. Cable, Esq., and +others. + +They are often turned up in agricultural work, and many farmers possess +a few, but will not part with them, nor with their stone or bronze +spear-heads, arrow-heads, axe-heads, and jars, as there is often some +superstition that it is unlucky to let these be sold away from the +neighbourhood where they were dug up. + +Full descriptions of some "finds" are given in the annual issues of the +_Societe Jersiaise_, together with illustrations. The illustrations +differ little as regards the types shown from those given in the works +of Evans and Hawkins. There is, however, one point to be observed that +is interesting and noteworthy--_i.e._, Gaulish and Roman coins have been +found enclosed together in the same urn, thus indicating that the two +coinages had concurrently come into the possession of the same person +before being hidden. This appears proof of concurrent circulation. The +small urn found by Mr. George Amy, of Rozel, close to the spot where the +landslip occurred in 1875, is in the Jersey Museum. It is, of course, +hand-made pottery, and burnt nearly black. It contained both Gaulish and +Roman coins--the former, both of _billon_ and silver, being mainly of +the smaller or more rare sort, and each weighing only from 18 to 28 +grains. The urn was a small one, the top having been covered by a flat +stone, with a larger stone keeping this down in its place. + +By consideration of the metal values of Gaulish and Roman coins turned +up in the same "find," we might arrive at the relative current values as +regulated and assigned at the period. + + + + +ROMAN COINS IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS + + +After conquest and occupation by the Romans, the Gaulish currency, as +well as that of ancient Britain, was superseded by Roman issues. Mr. +Edward Hawkins, in his standard work on the Silver Coins of England[C] +(page 22), tersely and precisely explains what happened in England; and +the Channel Islands came within the same provisions and action. + +[C] "The Silver Coins of England." By Edward Hawkins, F.R.S., F.A.S. +Published by Bernard Quaritch, 15, Piccadilly, London. + +"It is natural to suppose that when the Roman power had become +established in Britain, the ordinary money of that empire would form the +general circulation of this country, and that British money would be for +the most part, if not entirely, superseded. Gildas asserts that an edict +was actually issued and enforced, ordaining that all money current in +this island should bear the image and superscription of the Roman +Emperor; and the circumstance of Roman coins being almost daily turned +up in every part of the country amply confirms his statement. It is +quite unnecessary to enter here into any description of that money, as +it is perfectly well known to everyone, and numerous treatises and +descriptions of it have been published in all languages." + +Just as stated above, it would be but going over ground already +thoroughly well trodden to treat of the different Roman coins discovered +in the Channel islands. They are similar to those which have come to +light on the south coast of England and in Normandy and Brittany. I +will, however, append at length the following note from William Nicolle, +Esq., Jurat, of Bosville, King's Cliff, Jersey, who has favoured me with +particulars of Roman coins found in Jersey, and now in his possession:-- + +"The Roman coins in my possession are 342 in number, and form part of a +find which was made in February, 1848, in the district of 'Les +Quenvais,' in the parish of St. Brelade's, Jersey. They were described +in a paper which was contributed to the Worcester Congress in the summer +of 1848, by the late Mr. F. C. Lukis, F.S.A., the eminent Guernsey +archaeologist, and which was published in the 'Journal of the +Archaeological Association,' Vol. IV., page 272. + +"Mr. Lukis says:--'By a series of sections the accumulation of sand in +Les Quenvais bears marks of several inundations, quite distinct in +their appearance, and varying somewhat in their directions. The soil and +clay beneath this sandy mass exhibit Roman vestiges of pottery and other +articles, so that we cannot be far wrong in attributing the change in +this supposed fertile district to a period not far removed from the +Roman subjugation of western Europe. Fragments of Roman pottery from +beneath the sandy hillocks of Les Quenvais, in the possession of Col. Le +Couteur, of Jersey, Aide-de-camp to Her Majesty, present indubitable +marks of the possession of this district by those conquerors. And, as if +a further proof were wanting, in February last a jar[D] of coarse +earthenware, which contained 400 brass coins in excellent state of +preservation, was dug out from the substratum, where it may have been +lodged at the time of the Roman occupation of Jersey.' + +[D] This jar is in my possession. + +"Mr. Lukis then proceeds to describe at length the different varieties +of coins in this find under the respective emperors, though his details +are not always correct. + +"Of the 342 brass coins in my possession 208 are coins of Constantine +the Great, or his son, 86 of Licinius, 16 of Maximinus, 14 of Maxentius, +11 of Maximianus, and 7 of Constantius Chlorus. + +"Two emperors had the common name of Maximianus. The elder reigned from +286 to 310, and the younger from 305 to 311. Of the 11 coins of these +emperors, there are 7 of the elder and 4 of the younger. The first bear +on the obverse the legend _D. N. Maximiano P. F. S. Aug._, and the +second the words _Imp. C. Val. Maximianus P. F. Aug._ + +"Constantius I., or Constantius Chlorus, reigned one year, from the +first of May, 305, to July 25th, 306, when he died at Eboracum, now +York. During the whole of this period he remained in Gaul and Britain. +The 7 coins of this emperor are all of the same mintage. An exact +_facsimile_ of them is given on page 262 of Stevenson's 'Dictionary of +Roman Coins,' with the slight difference that in the exergue the letters +are P. L. N. instead of P. T. R. + +"Constantine the Great reigned from 306 to 337. He was the son of +Constantius Chlorus, and was with him at Eboracum at the time of his +death, and there assumed the purple. His son, Constantius II., or +Junior, was named Caesar by his father in 317, and died in 340. There is +no proper criterion by which to distinguish the coins of these two +emperors. Of the 208 coins of Constantine in my collection there are +about 30 varieties. + +"Maximinus II. reigned from 305 to 313; Maxentius from 306 to 312; and +Licinius from 307 to 324. + +"It is probable that all, or almost all, the 342 coins of this +collection were minted during the first quarter of the 4th century--in +fact, during the ten years between A.D. 305 and 315." + + + + +ON EARLY IMPORTED COINS AND THEIR VALUES. + + +In preceding "General Observations on Coinages for the Channel Islands," +I have noted that from the time of the Romans the currency continued to +be by _introduced_ or _foreign_ coins. Naturally enough, the islanders +would have only to do with coins which would be accepted by those on the +neighbouring mainland with whom they had commercial transactions. There +was not sufficient interior traffic to make requisite any local coinage +of their own. + +It would be uninteresting and of no practical utility to treat in detail +of coins thus imported for temporary and outside, as well as home, +convenience and necessity, but I will now give notes and extracts which +will, I believe, clearly indicate the nature of currency arrangements +which obtained from the days of the early kings of England. + +I am indebted to Le Quesne's "History of Jersey"[E] for interesting +information recorded of the coinages and currency of that island, and to +the Rev. G. E. Lee for the Guernsey records. The original states +documents from which these particulars were collated are still +preserved. The denominations of coins officially in use at various +periods appear thereby. + +[E] "A Constitutional History of Jersey." By Charles Le Quesne. +Published by Longmans and Co., London, 1856. + +"An order of King John, dated 25th March, 1208, directs the Exchequer to +reckon to the bailiffs of Southampton _twenty sols_ which they paid for +a ship in which Stephen de Oxford sailed to Guernsey and Jersey by +order of the king."--_Le Quesne_, page 476. + +"Orders from the English Crown in the early part of the 13th century +specified coins as follows for payment in Jersey:--An order from King +John of the 11th of November, 1212, directed that the Treasury should +pay to Philip d'Albigny, going to the island of Jersey, of which +Hasculfus de Soligny was governor, 40 marks for fortifying the +island."--_Le Quesne_, page 476. + +"In the 8th year of the reign of King Henry III., 1224, there was an +order on the Treasury to deliver to the Governor of Jersey, Galpidus de +Lucy, _400 livres_ for the payment of eight knights, each knight to +receive _two solidos_ per diem; for the pay of thirty-five cavalry +soldiers, each to receive _twelve deniers_ per diem; and for the pay of +sixty foot soldiers, each to receive _seven deniers_ per diem."--_Le +Quesne_, page 476. + +There were also similar grants in the two following years. + +"The only direct tax which the Dukes of Normandy had the right to levy +was called moneyage, or fouage, or hearth money. From the _Extent_ of +the Royal Revenue in Jersey, prepared by Commissioners in the year 1331, +this tax was also due to the Crown in Jersey. It was to be levied every +three years, and consisted of _12 deniers_, or _one sol_, for every +hearth in the Duchy."--_Le Quesne_, page 79. + +"There is a valuable _Extent_ of the Royal Revenues in Jersey drawn up +in the year 1331 by Robert de Norton and William de la Rue, +commissioners specially appointed for the purpose. In this _Extent_ we +find that William de Barentin held the manor and fief of Rozel by +homage; that this fief _owed sixty sols one denier_ relief; and that +whenever the King of England paid a visit to this island, the seigneur +of this fief was bound to meet his sovereign on horseback in the sea, to +the depth of the girths of the saddle; and during the residence of the +king in Jersey he was to be his butler, and to enjoy the known +emoluments of that office. The seigneur de Rozel, as also all the other +seigneurs holding _in capite_, owed suite de cour at the chief pleas of +the Royal Court, as they do still to this day. For the fief de Meleches +and other fiefs, held by Geffray de Carteret, there was due annually, by +the seigneur to the Crown, the sum of _forty livres one sol_. The fief +de Meleches reverted to the Crown as an escheat from Thomas Pinel, in +the time of King John, and was granted by Edward III. to Renault de +Cartaret, father of the then holder. The fief and manor of St. Ouen was +held by Renault de Carteret by homage; and the relief, when due, was +_nine livres_. The seigneur of this fief was bound to serve the king, in +time of war, at Gouray Castle, at his own expense, for the term of two +parts of forty days, and had to provide horses and armour. The wardship +of this fief and manor, during the minority of the seigneur, was in the +Crown. The manor and fief of Saumarez was held by homage by William de +St. Hillaire, and owed, as relief, the sum of _ten livres_. The seigneur +of the fief des Augres was in the hands of William Bras de Fer; and he +had to meet the king, when he arrived in Jersey, on horseback, to the +girths of his saddle, in the sea; and the fief owed, as relief, the sum +of _seven livres_. Besides the services due by the fiefs de haubert, we +find that a great number of persons owed stated sums annually to the +Crown for the lands held by them. The names of the persons are +mentioned, together with the quantity of land, for which a fixed annual +sum was due. For instance, several persons owed for a _bovata_ of land +the sum of _eight sols_ annually. This was the usual amount; but we find +that in some cases the charge was _six sols_, _seven sols_, _nine sols_, +_ten sols_, and in a few cases as low as _three sols_. The _bovata +terrae_ is the same as an oxgauge or an oxgate of land, or as much as an +ox can till; but being a compound word, it may contain meadow, pasture, +and wood necessary for such tillage. + +"Raulin le Francois owed for forty-two acres of land--twelve in Trinity +parish, and thirty in that of St. Laurens--an annual dinner to the king +at Michaelmas, which was, however, partaken by the bailli, the vicomte, +and the clerk of the king. This dinner could be commuted for the payment +of _twelve deniers_, which does not raise any extravagant notions of the +style of living in those days. The abbot of St. Saviour's, however, for +the priory of Bonnenuit, owed to the king annually an apparently better +dinner, for it was estimated at _eleven sols_. There were also due to +the Crown, as there are still to this day, by various persons, a +quantity of geese, fowls, eggs, and chickens. The tenants of the Crown +had various personal services to perform, such as carting the wine, +hay, and wood belonging to the king, and keeping the royal mills in +repair. The right of wardship, usually considered as incidental to +feudal tenures, does not appear to have obtained in Jersey, except in +the case of St. Ouen's manor. The right of marriage, or maritagium, +which was accompanied in some cases with considerable hardships, does +not appear to have prevailed or to have been exercised in this island. +This claim, when admitted, was often the source of large fines paid by +individuals to the Crown, and of much vexation and tyranny."--_Le +Quesne_, page 82. + +"In a grant of Sir Richard Harliston, dated 15th September, 1479, there +is mention of both corn and money rents--the former to the amount of 8 +qrs., 7 cabots, 2 sexrs., and the latter to _12 groats, 13 sous, 6 +deniers_. The grant was for services rendered during the siege for the +recovery of Mount Orgueil Castle."--_Le Quesne_, page 125. + +"On the 26th of January, 1534, the value of the current coinage was +regulated, and the same thing took place about this time as regards +coins in Guernsey."--_Le Quesne_, page 191. + +"On the 20th February, 1561, the price of cider in Jersey was fixed at +_one Esterlin_ the _Pot_; and the brewers were ordered to make beer +(servoise) for the use of the sick, the price of which was to be fixed +by the constables and principal parishioners."--_Le Quesne_, page 192. + +In the reign of King James I., under date the 20th July, 1607, a +commission was appointed, under presidency of Sir Robert Gardiner, +knight, for the determination of differences in Jersey; _it also had +scope as regards Guernsey_. + +"The first article of complaint by the governor was relative to the +value of the French coins. At these times there was very little, if any, +English coin in circulation, and there was, strictly speaking, no fixed +standard of value in Jersey. The _livre tournois_ could scarcely be +called a standard of value, and yet it was that by which the market +price of commodities was known. It was the ideal currency of the island, +that in which accounts were kept. The actual current money was French; +and any variation in its value compared to the livre tournois would +have, of course, to be regulated in Jersey. + +"Any change in the value or denomination of coins is attended with +serious inconveniences, and it may, in some cases, be highly injurious +to a large class of the community. This is more likely to be the case +when the coins of two countries are adopted; when two different +currencies are in circulation; when any variation in the value of the +coins of one of these countries takes place, and the relative value, +owing to that change, has to be ascertained and determined by a +legislative or administrative body. Great caution is required in these +matters; and, at a later period, the greatest discontent was caused in +Jersey, and even a riot ensued, from an alteration in the value of the +currency. + +"The States of Jersey, a few years before the arrival of the +commissioners, perceiving that the King of France had altered and +advanced his several coins, established what they considered an +equivalent value between these coins and the moneys in Jersey after the +old rates. The difference was about seven per cent. The _French crown_ +was advanced to _four sous_ more, the _guardesen_ from _fifteen sous_ to +_sixteen sous_, the _teston_ from _fourteen sous and a half_ to _fifteen +sous and a half_, and the _franc_ from _twenty sous_ to _twenty-one sous +four deniers tournois_. The only money in circulation was French; and +the governor claimed the payments due to the Crown in moneys at the old +rate. The commissioners were of a different opinion; they said that it +would be no prejudice to his Majesty or to the governor if the moneys +were received after the new advancements or alteration; and besides, it +would be a great contentment to the people of the island to pay the same +after the rate or value at which they had received it; but as the +commissioners considered that it was a prerogative of the Crown to +diminish, alter, or advance any moneys current among his own subjects, +they ordered that the relative value of the moneys should continue as +regulated by the States, 'until his Majesty's pleasure be known what +other course and order in times to come shall be held and kept therein.' +This decision of the commissioners was confirmed by the lords; but it is +added in the Order, 'that in time to come, because it is a prerogative +of his Majesty, and only appertaineth to royal right, to diminish, +alter, or advance any moneys current among his subjects, we require that +this be not until his Majesty's express consent be thereunto first had +and obtained.'"--_Le Quesne_, page 225. + +The following two interesting extracts are from "Charles the Second in +the Channel Islands," by S. Elliott Hoskins.[F] + +[F] "Charles the Second in the Channel Islands," by S. Elliott Hoskins, +M.D., F.R.S. Published by Richard Bentley, London. + +"The Prince of Wales, driven out of England without resources, having +nevertheless, at his own cost, to maintain soldiers and sailors; to +provide for a host of needy followers; to build fortifications for his +protection; and to defray the travelling expenses of the numerous +messengers going and coming from all parts, was reduced to great straits +at this period. Jersey could supply him but inadequately, and from +France he could obtain but slender and uncertain assistance. In order, +therefore, to improve the state of his finances, and in some measure to +provide for current expenses, it was resolved, at the recommendation of +the council, that an establishment for coining bullion should at once be +set up.[G] A house was accordingly hired in Trinity parish, Jersey, from +one Michael le Guerdain, which was speedily fitted up with furnaces for +fusing the precious metals, and with presses and dies for striking and +stamping coin, under the direction and superintendence of one Colonel +Smith, who was appointed Master of the Mint. + +[G] NOTE 1.--"In the year 1684 Charles the Second is said to have issued +tin coinage; had he made it a legal tender in 1646, when it was +plentiful and precious as an article of barter, the speculation might +have proved profitable." + +"Chevalier goes on to state that the money herein coined consisted +chiefly of pieces resembling English half-crowns, which passed current +at thirty sous each. The obverse of these pieces, called St. Georges, +was stamped with an effigy of the king on horseback holding a drawn +sword in his hand; and the reverse impressed with roses and harps, +proper to the royal arms, interlaced with fillets, crosses, and other +devices. Some shillings were likewise coined, and besides these a small +number of Jacobuses, said to be worth twenty shillings apiece."--_Hoskins_, +Vol. I., page 416. + +"Our journalist reverts to the subject of the mint set up in Jersey some +twelvemonths before, which at that time promised to become a profitable +financial speculation. The manager, Colonel Smyth, he informs us, +originally a landed proprietor, and a man of good family in England, had +been, before the troubles, master of one of his Majesty's provincial +mints, and by virtue of his office an honorary privy councillor. On the +breaking out of the civil war he commanded a regiment in the king's +service, but, at its termination, fled with hundreds of others into +France, from whence he came to Jersey, with his wife and a large train +of domestics, during the Prince of Wales's sojourn in that island. Being +desirous of exercising his former profession, and, moreover, provided +with dies and other coining implements, he succeeded in establishing a +mint under his royal highness's sanction and the countenance of the +governor, but not, as we shall see, under the patronage of the +chancellor of the exchequer. + +"In a few months the concern turned out to be an utter failure--partly +owing to mismanagement, partly to an alleged scarcity of bullion. Smyth, +a person of expensive habits, who kept up an extravagant private +establishment, becoming deeply involved, was forced to dispose not only +of his household goods, but of the greater part of his machinery, +reserving merely the dies he had brought over with him. Towards the end +of May he again sought refuge in France, intending, as he said, to send +his wife into England to compound for his sequestered estates. + +"Chevalier, although he admits that Colonel Smyth, 'etant a Jersey, fit +de la monnoie de quoi je ne dis rien,' is a firm believer in the actual +existence of a mint from whence were issued coins of gold and silver of +legal tender. Misled by his assertions--on all other subjects rigidly +accurate--we confidently bestowed considerable time and industry in +seeking to obtain specimens of the St. Georges, jacobuses, half-crowns, +and shillings, so minutely described, and alleged to have been struck in +Jersey. The perusal, however, of the subjoined letter dissipated the +illusion--proved that the mint was a Mississippi Scheme, a South Sea +Bubble on a small scale, and that the master thereof was little better +than a swindling adventurer--thus accounting for the non-existence of +the coinage in any numismatic collection:-- + + +"SIR EDWARD HYDE TO SIR EDWARD NICHOLAS. + +"I will tell you a tale, of which it may be you may know somewhat; if +you do not, take no notice of it from me. When we were in Cornwall, +Colonel Smyth (who was Sir Alexander Denton's son-in-law, and taken in +that house), having obtained his liberty by J. Ashburnham's friendship +upon such an exchange (one of the councillors of Ireland) as would have +redeemed the best man, came to us from the king at Hereford. To me he +brought a short perfunctory letter from my lord Digby, but from J. A. to +my lord Culpeper his dispatch was of weight; his business, to erect a +mint at Truro, which should yield the king a vast profit; Mr. Browne, J. +A.'s man (who was long a prisoner with him) (_sic_); the king's dues, by +a special warrant (which I saw), to be paid to Mr. Ashburnham. + +"What he did in Cornwall I know not, for you perceive he was to have no +relation or reference to me, which, if you had been Chancellor of the +Exchequer, you would have taken unkindly. Shortly after the Prince came +hither he came to us, having left Cornwall a fortnight before we did. +You may imagine my lord Culpeper was forward to help him, and how he +promised to set up his mint, and assured us that he had contracted with +merchants at St. Malloe to bring in such a quantity of bullion as would +make the revenue very considerable to the Prince. We wondered why the +merchants of St. Malloe should desire to have English money coined. He +gave us an answer that appeared very reasonable: that all the trade they +drove with the west country for tin, fish, or wool, was driven with +money; and therefore they sent over their pistoles and pieces-of-eight, +in which they sustained so great a loss that their merchants had rather +have this bullion coined into English money at 20 in the hundred than +take the other way. + +"After several debates, in which (though there seemed no convincing +argument to expect great profit from it) there was not the least +suggestion of inconvenience, he pretending that he had all officers +ready at St. Malloe, and such as belonged to the King's mint, and +likewise his commission under the great seal (for he produced only the +warrant under the sign-manual), the Prince writ a letter to the +Governor, Bailiff, and Jurats to give him countenance, and to assign him +some convenient place to reside in. Shortly after the Prince went away, +the Colonel proceeds, brings his wife hither (who in truth is a sober +woman) and takes a little house remote from neighbours, but pretended +that the Prince's remove and other accidents had hindered the advance of +the service, but that he hoped hereafter to proceed in it. Here he +lived soberly and reservedly; and after two or three months here was +found much adulterated money--half-crown pieces which had been put off +by people belonging to him. One only officer he hath, an old Catholic, +one Vaughan, who is a good graver. + +"The Governor (who is strangely civil to all men, but immoderately so to +such gentlemen as have seemed to serve the King in this quarrel) was +much perplexed, the civil magistrates here taking notice of it (the base +money), and sent to him to speak with him; told him that he believed his +education had not been to such artifices, and that he might be easily +deceived by the man he trusted, who was not of credit enough to brave +the burthen of such a trust; that if this island fell into suspicion of +such craft, their trade would be undone; and therefore (having showed +him some pieces of money) desired him by no means to proceed in that +design, till satisfaction might be given by the view of such officers +who were responsible for it. The Colonel denied some of the pieces to be +of his coining, but confessed others, and said it was by mistake too +light; but I had forgot to tell you that he had assured me, two or three +days before, that he had yet coined none. + +"To conclude (though much troubled), he promised the Governor not to +proceed further in it. Then he came to me, and told me a long and +untoward discourse of a great trust between the King, Mr. Ashburnham and +himself, and one more, which he would not name, but led me to believe it +was Mr. A.'s friend at Paris, and that the design was originally to coin +dollars, by which he could gain a vast advantage to the King. He found +me not so civil as he expected, and therefore easily withdrew, and the +same day attempted the Governor, and offered him a strong weekly bribe +(enough to keep you and me and both our families very gallantly) to join +with him and assist him. His reception was not much better there, so +that he has since procured a good stout letter from the Prince to +command the Governor, Bailiff, and Jurats to give him all countenance, +and to advance the service. This will put an end to it, for the Governor +will deal freely with the Prince, though upon the confidence we have +still naughty new money. The reason of the Governor's exceeding +tenderness is his duty to the King, to whom such a communion (which +indeed is a strange one) would draw much dishonour. Tell me if you know +anything of this, and whether you think your friend so wise, and careful +of his master's honour as he should be; beyond this say nothing of it, +except to my lord Hopton, who can tell you how scurvy a thing it is. + + "EDW. HYDE. + +"Jersey, February 24th, 1647. + + +"There is some discrepancy between this account of the affair and +Chevalier's; not so much, however, considering that one writer was +before, while the other was behind the scenes. The two narratives +combined complete the history of the Jersey mint--a history evidently +discreditable to certain personages, and therefore never intended to +meet the public eye. Even the unsophisticated chronicler is intuitively +aware that some mystery attaches to the transaction, which prevents him +from writing with his usual unreserve."--_Hoskins_, Vol. II., page 138. + +"In 1646, men of the Jersey Militia each received _5 sols_ per diem on +Field days."--_Le Quesne_, page 486. + +"A great improvement was effected in the organisation of the militia by +Sir Thomas Morgan. He divided the militia into regiments, and remodelled +the artillery. On his proposition, in order to compel the men to attend +with regularity to their military duties, so essential for the +preservation of the island, the States, on the 25th September, 1666, +ordered that fines should be levied by the vingteniers for all defaults +in the following proportions:-- + + A commissioned officer _sixty sols_. + A cavalry soldier _thirty sols_. + A private soldier, with musket (mousquetaire) _twelve sols_. + A private soldier, with halbert or staff + (halbarde ou baston) _eight sols_." + + --_Le Quesne_, page 489. + + +"It is an indication of the little traffic of the Island that payments +were usually made in _liards_--small copper coins of the value of +one-eighth of a penny. There are acts of the States passed at different +periods alluding to the scarcity of money. According to the prevalent +notions of those times, and of a much later period, one chief object of +commercial legislation was to keep as much money or actual coin in the +country as possible; and the balance of trade was to be so regulated as +to insure this result. The exportation of coin has therefore, in various +countries, been occasionally prohibited under severe penalties. The same +notions existed in Jersey, and it was equally believed that coin or +money could be retained, and should be retained, by legislative +enactments. We find an act of the States, of the 3rd of October, 1701, +forbidding all persons to take or send out of the Island to foreign +countries any gold, silver, or other coin, to a larger amount than +_thirty livres tournois_ at a time, on pain of confiscation of the +money, besides a fine; and, in addition to this penalty, confiscation of +the vessel on board of which such moneys should be found, and three +months' imprisonment of the master and crew. This prohibition did not +produce the results anticipated by the States; for we find them, on the +9th of April, 1720, complaining that, although the sending out of the +Island of gold and silver was forbidden, yet very little remained in the +Island. They could not understand that if a profit or benefit was to be +derived in the purchase of commodities or provisions in France with +actual money, such money would unavoidably find its way there. Coins, +being in fact merchandise, will follow the same rules of exchange, and +will be attracted to those parts where they bear a greater exchangeable +or market value. The actual value of a coin in currency must be that of +its intrinsic value; and if temporary circumstances cause it to bear a +greater value elsewhere, thither it will tend, till the balance is +restored, in defiance of any attempts to arrest its progress. + +"The ill-success of the States, in their prohibition of the exportation +of gold and silver coin, did not lead them to perceive the futility of +the measure; but they were fearful that the copper money, the _sous_ and +the _liards_, would follow their betters, particularly as sous and +liards had risen in value in France, and that thus the Island would be +deprived of all metallic circulation. They therefore, on the 9th of +April, 1720, prohibited the carrying out of the Island of _liards_ and +_sous_ to a larger amount than five livres tournois for each person, +under the penalty of confiscation; and all persons were authorised to +seize the moneys thus exported, and to require the assistance, if +necessary, of the constables and centeniers in the searching of the +vessels; while the master and crews on board of which such sums should +be found, if cognizant of the fact, were to be liable to a fine and an +imprisonment of three months. + +"By an act of the States of the 3rd of May, 1720, it appears that there +was no longer any gold or silver in circulation: it had disappeared, +having been sent out of the Island; and the only metallic currency +remaining was that of _liards_, which it was probable would also +disappear. The States, in consequence, found it impossible to repay the +sums which had been generously lent, without interest, by individuals, +for the works at the harbour; and in order to obtain a supply which was +to enable them to pay their debts, and to avoid the loss accruing from +the variable market value of the coins, they resolved on the adoption of +a plan which could only increase the evil, and perpetuate the banishment +of gold and silver coin. The States evidently confused the want of funds +with the want of metallic money; for had they possessed the former, the +latter would have been forthcoming. An easy mode of creating money, +according to them, which was to enable them to pay their debts, without +any detriment or cost to anybody (sans qu'il n'en coute rien a +personne), and to build the harbour without any expense to the Island, +was by the issue of a paper currency, from the circulation of which the +public were to derive much benefit, and which, besides, would not be +liable to fluctuation in value. They seemed not to be aware that a paper +currency must be based on a metallic one; that it must represent, and be +exchangeable for, a metallic currency, and therefore must follow the +fluctuations of the latter in value; since, if not exchangeable, at the +option of the bearer, for metallic value, it at once becomes +depreciated, and drives from circulation the metallic currency by which +it is designated. The lower the value of the notes, or paper currency, +the greater will become the scarcity of the coin. Such would naturally +be the result of the enactment of the States, for they decided on +issuing notes of a very low value. For instance, there were to be + + 2,000 notes each of twenty sous. + 1,000 " " " thirty sous. + 1,000 " " " sixty sous. + 1,000 " " " one hundred sous. + 750 " " " ten livres. + 500 " " " twenty livres. + 300 " " " thirty livres. + 240 " " " fifty livres. + +The aggregate amount of these notes was fifty thousand livres. + +"The scarcity of gold and silver continued; and the States, on the 21st +of December, 1725, declared that the only metallic currency in +circulation was liards or deniers. They had on previous occasions +prohibited the exportation of this copper money; they now forbade its +importation, under pain of confiscation. In the following year, +perceiving no doubt the futility of their enactments, they allowed, by +their act dated the 19th of September, 1726, a free trade in liards--the +free importation and exportation of this coin. On the same day they +appointed a committee from their body to prepare a representation to his +Majesty in Council, on the subject of the relative value of the coins in +circulation in the Island. This representation was adopted by the States +on the 25th of November, 1726. The ulterior sanction by Council of the +recommendation of the States was the occasion of serious commotions and +discontent in the Island. The avowed object of the States in their +request to the Crown was to prevent the exportation of gold and silver +coin from the Island, and to encourage the exportation of liards to +France, which they asserted passed in Jersey above their intrinsic +value, and with which they were very much burdened--reasons among the +very worst which could be given, or upon which a legislative enactment +could be based. + +"An Order in Council, dated the 22nd of May, 1729, was issued, approving +of the proposed alterations in the currency by the States; and it was +accordingly ordered:-- + +"That the French silver coins be current in the said Island only +according to their intrinsic value, in proportion to the British +crown-piece. + +"That the British crown-piece do continue at seventy-one sols; the +half-crown at thirty-five sols and a half; the shilling at fourteen +sols; and the sixpence at seven sols. + +"That the French liards be reduced to their old value of two deniers +each; and that the British half-pence be current for seven deniers; and +the farthing for three and a half. And his Majesty doth hereby further +order that the said coins do pass in all manner of payments, according +to the said rates; but that this order shall not take effect till the +expiration of six calendar months from the date thereof; and to the end +that no person may pretend ignorance hereof, the bailiff and jurats of +his Majesty's said Island of Jersey are to cause this order to be +forthwith published, and to take care that it be executed according to +the tenor thereof." + +The act of the States and the Order in Council were, to say the least of +them, highly injudicious. The only coin apparently in circulation was +the _liard_, and the accounts were kept in _livres_ and _sous_. The +proportion between the sol and the livre remained unchanged; but it +followed, from the new law, that if a person did not meet his +liabilities within the specified time of six months, his debts were +consequently increased fifty per cent. if he had to pay them in liards; +and he could pay them apparently in no other coin. The value of the +_sol_ relative to the _liard_ was raised fifty per cent.; that is, six +liards were to be estimated as equivalent to one sol, instead of four +liards as heretofore. Now, on what grounds could the States establish +this great difference, when it did not exist in reality? We ascertain +positively by an act of the States of the 21st of December, 1725, that +the real exchangeable difference between the liards, at their estimated +value of four to a sol, and gold and silver coin, was only twelve per +cent. in favour of the latter. The rate of exchange between countries is +not dependent on or regulated by any legislative authority, however +despotic or absolute it may be, but is regulated by the real intrinsic +relative value of the coins in circulation in the two countries; and +hence the rate of exchange, compared with the par of exchange, will show +the depreciation sustained by the circulating medium of a country; for +the difference between the par and the rate of exchange should in +ordinary circumstances not exceed the cost of transmission of the +precious metals from one country to the other. Now, by an act of the +States of the 21st of December, 1725, we learn that they were indebted +to a merchant at St. Malo for the proceeds of the sale of a cargo of +wheat, which had been taken possession of and sold to the people by the +States, at a time of great scarcity in the Island. They had remitted a +portion of the amount; but there remained a balance due of 3,332 livres +tournois, which Mr. Patriarche had engaged to remit to St. Malo. The +States ordered that this amount should be paid to Mr. Patriarche by the +deputy viscount in liards, thus incidentally proving that there was in +reality no other coin in circulation; but as Mr. Patriarche had to pay +the amount to the merchant at St. Malo in gold and silver, and as these +bore a premium compared to liards, the loss, or rather the amount of the +premium, had of course to be made good by the States; and they +accordingly ordered that that difference, amounting to 416 livres ten +sous, should be raised by rate on the parishes, and placed in the hands +of the deputy viscount, for payment to Mr. Patriarche. We are thus +enabled satisfactorily to ascertain the real comparative difference +between the value of the liard and other metallic currency, or, in other +words, the premium which the latter bore compared with the copper +currency, at the rate of four liards to the sol. By a calculation on the +data thus furnished, we find the difference to be precisely twelve per +cent. in favour of gold and silver; and we are also to bear in mind that +the great scarcity of gold and silver would of course add to the +premium. By the Order in Council the difference was to be established at +fifty per cent. + +"The States soon perceived that they had either committed a great +mistake or that they must yield to public opinion, which was strongly +and decidedly opposed to the change ordered. They accordingly, on the +20th of December, 1729, petitioned his Majesty in Council for the recall +of the Order in Council, being apprehensive that the said regulations +would not answer the ends they at first expected from them. The States, +on the 24th of April, 1730, named a deputy in support of their petition. +Counsel were heard by the committee of the Privy Council for the States, +and also for several members of the States and others who opposed the +petition of the States; but the opinion of the committee was, that the +Order in Council regulating the currency ought not to be suspended or +revoked, but carried into execution. His Majesty in Council, therefore, +on the 9th of July, 1730, ordered that the said Order in Council of the +22nd of May, 1729, be carried into execution: but that during the term +of six months from the date hereof all creditors in the said Island do +receive their debts, if tendered to them at the rate at which the coins +went current immediately before making the aforesaid Order in Council; +and, in case of refusal, that such creditors do forfeit one-third of +their debts to the benefit of the debtors." + +In 1774, in France, from whence the small change for the Channel Islands +was being obtained, the _sou_ was equivalent to twelve deniers, the +_double-liard_ or _half-sou_ to six deniers, and the _liard_ or +_quarter-sou_ to three deniers. + +"Established custom, and the relative value of coins, proved of greater +force than the Orders in Council. Livres, and sous, and liards tournois +continued, in fact, the currency of the Island at their old rate; and +many of the native inhabitants of the Island still keep their accounts, +or make their reckonings, in the livre tournois--the livre being +estimated at twenty sous, and the sou at four liards or twelve deniers. +When the English currency was, in the year 1835, adopted as the legal +currency of the Island, it was done by declaring the relative value +which it bore in circulation to the livre tournois. This was to meet the +objections which were raised to the adoption of the English standard +with regard to wheat rents, and other mortgages, which were estimated in +the old currency tournois. Twenty-six livres tournois, or old French +currency, were declared to be equivalent to one pound sterling, which +was, and is now, the current rate. + +"Allusion is still made in some legal and official documents to +order-money or, as it is called, argent d'ordre, or argent selon l'ordre +du roi. But the question may reasonably be asked, 'What is order-money? +What is the standard of order-money? Does order-money really exist, or +has it ever existed?' The livre of order-money is considered worth fifty +per cent. more than the livre-tournois; and the distinction is supposed +to be derived from the Order in Council of the year 1729. But that Order +in Council did not establish that difference: it did not change the +relative value of the sou and the livre. There was, in fact, no such +thing as order-money, except for liards, and thus it did not apply to +sous or livres. The value of the liard, as compared to the sou, was, it +is true, changed and regulated; but the relative value of the sol, +compared with the livre, could not be changed or affected thereby; it +remained the same as before. There were twenty sous to the livre: the +coin, the sou in circulation, was not enlarged, or made of more +intrinsic value. Such as it was before, such it remained still. There +was no other sou or livre known or acknowledged in use than the +tournois; and the Order in Council did not substitute any other. The +Order in Council could not, with any degree of fairness or justice, be +supposed to affect those persons who paid their accounts in sous or +livres, or in gold or silver, and not in liards. This was not, however, +the view taken of the Order; and hence the indignation felt; for the +interpretation given, and the claim of fifty per cent. more than was in +fact due, bore the semblance of great injustice. + +"The present value in circulation in Jersey of English silver coin will +illustrate my meaning. The shilling passes current for twenty-six sous, +or thirteen pence of old Jersey currency; but the value of the shilling +is not intrinsically or really changed--whether it is called twelve +pence British or thirteen pence Jersey. In either case, a shilling +remains a shilling, a pound sterling a pound sterling, worth twenty of +the shillings, whether called twelve pence or thirteen pence. The +intrinsic value of the coin, of the shilling, is precisely the same; and +its relative value to the sovereign is not in the slightest degree +modified. The only mode of changing the value of a coin is by an +addition of the metal of which it is composed, or by deterioration. If a +coin contains the same quantity of metal of the same standard, it does +not vary in intrinsic value, whatever may be the denomination given to +it, or whatever may be the depreciation of a coin of less value. For the +same reason, whether the sou was called six liards or four liards, +twelve deniers or eight deniers, that made no difference whatever in the +real intrinsic value of the sou or the livre. Persons could not in +justice be compelled to pay their accounts in liards, when the amount +was stated in livres or sous; and hence to oblige them to pay fifty per +cent. more than the amount due, when the amount offered was gold or +silver, livres or sous, was egregiously unjust."--_Le Quesne_, page +421. + + + + +THE COATS OF ARMS OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS. + + +Since the coats of arms for the islands of Guernsey and Jersey appear on +the coins minted for these islands in England in the nineteenth century, +the following notes may be of interest:-- + +In 1279 King Edward I. granted a Public Seal, with arms (as for +England), to the islands of Jersey and Guernsey. The arms for Guernsey +now differ only from those of Jersey in being surmounted by a sprig of +laurel, or another plant. It is not, however, stated why or when this +sprig was conferred. The arms read-- + + _Gu_--three lions or leopards passant gardant--_or_. + +From the impressions of the Bailiewick seals, at different periods, it +appears that slight differences occur. The inscription on the seal for +Jersey runs--"S. Ballivic Insule de Jerseye." + +Alderney and Sark, being dependencies of Guernsey, have on legal or +authoritative documents either the seal as granted for that island or +else local seals, as will be specified. + +The Rev. G. E. Lee, Rector of St. Peter's, Port Guernsey, communicates +the following interesting and very full note on the above-named +matter:-- + +"Edward I., in the 7th year of his reign, November 15th, 1279, granted a +seal for the use of both Bailiewicks. The seal used in both islands was +the same in all respects, except that one had, as legend, _S. Ballivic +Insule de Gerseye_, and the other, _S. Ballivic Insule de Gernseye_. +Both seals are appended to a document formerly belonging to the abbey of +Mont St. Michel. The seals bore the three lions of England crowned, _and +were both surmounted by a branch_, of which more below. The document is +of the year 1315. The Guernsey side has the counterseal of Macey de la +Court Bailiff. The Jersey counterseal has no name, but bears three lions +passant, with some sort of bird as a crest. The Bailiff of Guernsey +still uses a _facsimile_ of the original seal. In Jersey the seal has +been modernized, and the surmounting branch omitted, perhaps by the +carelessness of the engraver. The said branch is usually styled a laurel +branch, but why I know not. It has stiff sprays, and I am convinced was +intended for the _Plantagenista_, the well-known badge used by King +Edward I." + +It cannot, however, but be observed that if the sprig be intended to +represent the slight, insignificant foliage of the Plantagenista [called +"Broom" in the south of England], the design is very unlike and +misleading. + +As regards the official seals used locally for Alderney and Sark, under +date, Alderney, 22nd February, 1895, the Procureur of Alderney informs +me:-- + +"The Guernsey seal is not ours, nor is it ever used by us. A _facsimile_ +of our seal and coat of arms is enclosed, but I know not when granted, +nor by whom." + +This seal is a lion rampant, with a sprig in right paw, and above the +legend JUGE D'AUREGNY. The heraldic tinctures are not indicated on the +seal. + +With reference to the seal used locally for Sark, W. F. Collings, +Esquire, informs me, under date, Sark, 8th March, 1895:-- + +"The seal of the Seigneurs was authorized to be used by act of the Royal +Court, Guernsey, bearing date the 12th day of August, 1661, by virtue of +a clause in Letters Patent of James I.--of date, August 12th, 1611. The +seal was lost in the wreck of the steamer _Gosforth_, November 26th, +1872." + +The Rev. G. E. Lee supplements the above as follows:-- + +"I find that the Alderney seal was granted by the Lords of the Privy +Council, on May 23rd, 1745. It bears the legend _Sigillum Curiae Insulae +Origny, 1745_. + +"Origny is an older form than Auregny; the mediaeval Latin was +_Alrenorium_. + +"The seal you have got with _Juge d'Auregny_ is not the official seal I +have described, but an adaptation of it doubtless. + +"I can gather no record of any minting having ever taken place in +Guernsey. There is, however, an estate in the parish of St. Andrew +called _La Monnoye_ or _Monnaie_, which _may_ mean 'The Mint.'" + +The extract furnished by Mr. Le Brun, vicar of Alderney, with the +impression of the seal of that island, is:-- + +"Sceau ou _cachet accorde_ a La Cour, 1745, Mai 23e. Les Seigneurs du +Conseil Prive de Sa Majeste, par leur ordre ou Conseil de ce Jour +authorisent (_sic_) la Cour d'Auregny d'avoir un cachet pour certifier +tous et tels ecrits qui leur pourront etre presentes pour y opposer le +sceau." + +Under date 27th March, 1895, the Rev. G. E. Lee supplements his previous +information:-- + +"I have seen Sir Edgar MacCulloch, and he agrees with me that the +Alderney seal is a creation. I have now seen two documents of Sark. The +first, of 1818, is sealed with a large seal, two inches in diameter, in +green wax, bearing the de Carteret arms and supporters. The seal is +called "Le sceau de la Seigneurie de l'ile de Serk." On the reverse is a +counterseal, with the arms of the then seigneur, P. Le Pelley. + +"The other deed is of 1852, and sealed with the Le Pelley arms, which, +on that occasion, are called 'Le sceaux de la Seigneurie de cette +ile'--the seigneur being P. C. Le Pelley. + +"The late Mr. Collings, I suspect, used the de Carteret seal, which +seems to have been lost in the wreck of the _Gosforth_. The de +Carterets, no doubt, used the seal with their own arms, and some of +their successors certainly used this same seal as the official seal for +the island." + +The _arms_ of the ancient family of de Carteret are, with supporters, + + _Gu_--four Fusils in Fess conjoined _arg._, + +and _crest_, a squirrel sejant holding a sprig--_ppr._, and their +historic motto--"LOYALL DEVOIR." + + + + +THE JERSEY SILVER TOKENS OF 1813. + + +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." + +The above-named two Jersey silver tokens read respectively:-- + + _O._ STATES OF JERSEY, 18 13 = The arms of Jersey--viz., _gules_, + three lions passant gardant _or._ + + _R._ THREE | SHILLINGS | TOKEN, in three lines, within a wreath of oak + leaves. + + and + + _O._ STATES OF JERSEY, 11 13 = the arms of Jersey. + + _R._ EIGHTEEN | PENCE | TOKEN, in three lines, within a wreath of oak + leaves. + +These silver tokens were the only coins of that metal ever struck for +the Channel Islands. The countermarked Spanish dollars, indented "Bishop +de Jersey and Co.," belong to Guernsey, and will be noticed together +with the other coins of that island. + + + + +COPPER AND BRONZE COINAGES OF JERSEY FROM 1841. + + +The Viscount of Jersey [Le Gros] favours me with the following +information:-- + +"In 1834 it was enacted that from the 1st October, in that year, English +money alone should be legal tender in the island, and that the pound +sterling should be considered equal to 26 _livres_, old French currency, +which was, up to the date above given, currency of the island. + +"There being 20 _sous_ to the _livre_, and 20 _shillings_ to the_ +pound_, a shilling became the equivalent of 26 _sous_. The value of the +Jersey penny, or _piece de deux sous_, therefore, became 1/13th of a +shilling, the half-penny, or sou, 1/26th of a shilling, and the +farthing, or _piece de deux liards_, 1/52nd of a shilling." + +As regards the above, in plain English we may call a _livre_ a franc, a +_sou_ a half-penny, and a _liard_ a half-farthing, as current in Jersey. + +Sir C. W. Fremantle, Deputy-Master of the Royal Mint, has most kindly +given me full particulars as to dates and amounts of actual supplies of +copper coins to Jersey; and the Viscount of Jersey has furnished me with +records of quantities ordered; thus collectors will now be able to +judge as to rarity of the different issues, and also to know for certain +when they may happen to meet with patterns or coins not sent to Jersey +for circulation. + +NUMBERS OF PIECES ISSUED. + + Pence Half-Pence Farthings + (2 _Sous_).(1 _Sou_). (1/2 _Sou_). + + Copper coins bearing date 1841. (The 116,480 232,960 116,480 + order, dated 13th July, 1840, was to the + value of L1,000). These, and up to + date, 1871 inclusive, were for 1/13th, + 1/26th, and 1/52nd. + + There was a further supply in 1844 27,040 232,960 -- + + On December 13th, 1850, there was an No record. + order, to the value of L1,000, for + copper coins; but there is no record in + the Royal Mint that supply was made + therefrom. Still, both pence and + half-pence of date, 1851, were supplied + for currency, and are still common. + + Copper coins of date, 1858 (ordered to 173,333 173,333 -- + value of L2,000 on 15th October, 1857). + + Copper coins of date, 1861 173,333 173,333 -- + + Bronze coins of date, 1866, ordered to 173,333 173,333 -- + value L2,000 under date 8th Dec, 1864 + + Ditto, ditto, 1870. In 1869 the old copper 173,333 173,333 -- + issues were called in to be used for + recoining and re-issue as bronze + coinage--as type of late bronze coinage + of 1866. These re-coined issues were + dated 1870 and 1871. + + Bronze coins of date, 1871 (in continuance 173,333 173,333 -- + of last-named order). + + Bronze coins of date, 1877. These coins 260,000 312,000 312,000 + coins were 1/12th, 1/24th, and 1/48th + of a shilling respectively, instead of + being 1/13th, &c., as previously. On + February 25th, 1876, the leading + tradesmen of Jersey had petitioned the + States to this effect, and the States + ordered L2,000 of the new denominations + accordingly. At the same time, the + coins of former denominations were + called in. This new coinage was ordered + through the Royal Mint, but actually + struck by Messrs. Ralph Heaton, of + Birmingham. + + Bronze coins of date, 1881. L260 worth 81,380 -- -- + of bronze farthings of 1877, for which + there had been no demand in Jersey, + were sent back to the Mint, and re-coined + into pence, and thus re-issued. + + Bronze coins of date, 1888. (L2,000 were 195,000 130,000 -- + ordered, but only L1,000 supplied). In + 1894 the remainder of the bronze + coinage ordered for Jersey in 1888 was + supplied. The value of this further + supply, bearing date 1894, was L_750_ + in coins 1/12th of a shilling, and + L_250_ in coins 1/24th of a shilling. + The original "States" authority was of + the 16th January, 1888, confirmed by + Order in Council dated 17th March, + 1888. The first half, L750 and L250 + respectively in denominations, had been + re-coined in September, 1888. + + +The descriptive reading of the first copper coinage of Jersey is as +follows, dates and values being altered as required--values issued being +1/13th, 1/26th, and 1/52nd of a shilling:-- + +_O._ Dexter Bust[H] of Her Majesty the Queen, with hair banded, as in +the English contemporary shilling, with the legend VICTORIA: D: G: +BRITANNIAR: REGINA F.D.: 1841. + +[H] By _dexter_ bust is meant that the features, as eye, nose, and +mouth, are towards the dexter edge of the coin or shield. + +_R._ Ornamented Shield of Arms of Jersey (_gules_--three lions or +leopards passant gardant), with STATES OF JERSEY around upper half--1/13 +OF A SHILLING around lower half. This type was issued from 1841 to 1861 +intermittently. + +The bronze coinages of dates 1866, 1870, and 1871 have the bust +coroneted, and an oak leaf scroll, and the ONE THIRTEENTH written fully +instead of expressed in figures and as a fraction, and initials of +Leonard C. Wyon on truncation of neck. The issues were but of 1/13th +and 1/26th of a shilling--none of 1/52nd (farthings). + +The bronze coinage of 1877 and subsequently reads as follows--with +differences for values and dates:-- + + _O._ Dexter Coroneted Bust of Her Majesty, with seven-pointed star + below, and letter H for Heaton (minters) within the legend VICTORIA + D.G. BRITANNIA REGINA F.D. + + _R._ A pointed Shield of Jersey arms, dividing the date 18-77--STATES + OF JERSEY above, and ONE TWELFTH OF A SHILLING around lower half. + These were issued of the values 1/12th, 1/24th, and 1/48th of a + shilling, thus inaugurating for the Jersey penny the same fractional + part of a shilling as obtained for the English penny. + + + +ON GUERNSEY COINS FROM THE MIDDLE AGES. + + +I am very greatly indebted to the Rev. G. E. Lee, M.A., F.S.A., Rector +of St. Peter's Port, Guernsey, for the trouble he has kindly taken in +searching old records and statutes relative to the currency in that +island during the last 350 years. He has courteously given me permission +to publish his extracts just as transcribed, and I here append these +accordingly:-- + +ON GUERNSEY CURRENCY. + +_Orders of the Royal Court and of the States of Guernsey._ + +ROYAL COURT: + + +1.--1535, March 21. No one is to coin "freluques" in future. + +2.--21st January, 1537. The carolusis to be held worth 12 deniers, and + the vache worth 3 liards. + +3.--Collas Guillemotte (22nd January, 1553) is authorized to coin + _enseignes_ of latten. + +4.--Michaelmas, 1581. Her Majesty's Receiver and others are to receive + the coins named below at the values attached thereto, as follows:-- + + The French crown = 20 silver groats. + Flemish crown = 19-1/2do. + Pistole = 19 do. + Double Ducat = 14 Sols sterling. + Double Millerays = 14 do. + Noble, Henry of France = 14 do. + Croizadelittle cross = 20-1/2 groats. + Ditto potence = 20 do. + Poll head= 15 do. Real of Spain = 6d. ob. sterling. + +5.--Michaelmas, 1582. Value of various coins fixed as follows:-- + + French Crown at 19-1/2 Gros. + Flemish at 19 do. + Croyzade little + at 20 do. + Do., + potence, at 19-1/2 do. + Pistolet at 18-1/2 do. + +6.--Jan. 16, 1586. Value of coins fixed as follows:-- + + French Gold Crown at 19-1/2 Gros of silver. + Flemish at 1 sol tournois less than the Escu soll. + Pistolet at 2 sols tournois less than the Escu soll. + Frank at 6 silver gros (if of full weight). + Half Frank at 3 do. + Quarter Crown at 4-1/2 gros. + Half quarter Crown at 2-1/4 do. + Teston of France at 17 deniers. + +7.--30th September, 1605. French coins, not worn out--_e.g._, quarter + and half-crowns, testons and half-testons, francs and + half-francs--are to be received at the rate of 64 sols to the + crown. Reals to be held worth 5 deniers. + +8.--4th October, 1619. Many unauthorized persons having coined + freluques, this is forbidden under pain of public whipping "jusqu' + a effusion de sang." + +9.--6th October, 1623. The Normans having sent hither a quantity of + deniers tournois, which they are passing for doubles, the Governor + is asked to appoint a person to coin freluques. + +10.--17th April, 1626. The island being flooded with foreign doubles, no + one shall be compelled to take more of them than the value of 2 + sous tournois per crown of the money to be paid to him. + +STATES: + +11.--February 26, 1640. A quantity of light French coin being current in + the island, traders and others insist on weighing these moneys, + refusing to take them at more than their true value. It is ordered + that such money be always weighed, as is done in Normandy. + +12.--On the 3rd of the said February, 1640, it had been ordered that all + such coins should pass for their nominal value without weighing. + +13.--Aug. 9, 1646. The States complain that whereas by their ancient + customs they were allowed in Guernsey to pay all dues to the King + in such money as was current in Normandy, the Governor and his + Deputy had insisted on continuing to pay such French money as they + had in their possession after it had been recalled, and would no + longer pass in Normandy. + +14.--Jan. 4, 1649. It hath been ordained this day that the English + shilling, being worth 12 pence sterling, shall go in this island + for 12 sols tournois in payment, and receate and other species of + English money in proportion. + +ROYAL COURT: + +15.--Oct. 5, 1713. Great numbers of deniers having been brought into the + island, not less than 15 of them shall be counted for a sol + tournois. + +16.--April 26, 1718. The last order is annulled, and the value of a + denier fixed at 14 to the sol tournois. + +17.--April 22, 1723. Great abundance of deniers still being imported, + they are now to be valued at 16 to the sol tournois. + +18.--Dec. 2, 1723. The value of deniers fixed at 20 to the sol tournois. + +19.--Dec. 7, 1723. Marked sols are not to pass current. + +20.--Oct. 3, 1763. Great quantity of Liards (commonly called Great + Doubles) being constantly sent out of the island, small change is + difficult to get. The order of Court of 2nd June, 1741 (which fixed + the value of the said liard at 13 for 2 sols tournois) is annulled. + Liards of France, alias Grand Doubles, are to go 6 to the sol + tournois; but none need accept more than 7 sols tournois at each + payment. + +21.--March 28, 1797. In order to keep in the island all English money + and all foreign coin which can be used, the Court orders that the + French 6 franc pieces shall be held equal to 5s. 3d. sterling, and + three livres pieces shall be held equal to 2s. 7-1/2d. sterling; + and inasmuch as the Bank of England has put in circulation a + quantity of Spanish dollars, fixing their price at 4s. 9d. sterling + per dollar, the said dollars shall pass current here at the same + value, and may not be refused. No money to be exported from + Guernsey. + +22.--Jan. 22, 1798. The last order repealed so far as relates to Spanish + dollars. + +23.--Sept. 30, 1799. No coined money is to be embarked here on pain of + confiscation. Merchandise imported is to be paid for by bills on + London or other places; the masters of vessels are only to receive + enough cash for their expenses here. + +24.--Jan. 2, 1802. Owing to the scarcity of coined money, the Court + renews the ordinance of March 28, 1797, and orders that the said 6 + livre pieces shall be current, and held worth 5s. 3d. sterling, and + the 3 livre pieces worth 2s. 7-1/2d. sterling. Export of money + again forbidden. + +25.--May 12, 1802. Last ordinance _re_ 6 livre and 3 livre pieces + repealed. + +26.--Jan. 17, 1803. Deniers and centimes are not to be passed for + liards, and to prevent fraud these small coins are not to be used + in _rouleaux_, in which pieces of lead, wood, &c., are often to be + found. + +27.--Aug. 5, 1809. Export of money again forbidden, except of foreign + dollars in parcels brought to the island, but not circulated. + +28.--Oct. 1, 1810. To the same effect. + +29.--March 9, 1813. The importation of silver and copper _tokens_ + forbidden. + +30.--April 26, 1813. The ordinances forbidding the export of money + repealed, except as regards money of the United Kingdom. + +31.--July 6, 1816. The Constable complaining of the inconvenience caused + by the fluctuation in the value of French money, "which has always + been current in this island," the said coins are to pass at their + current value, but may be refused. + + The values are fixed thus:-- + + Pieces or crowns of 6 Francs to be worth 4s. 10d. + Petits Ecus, 2s. 4d. + Pieces of 24 Sous, 10d. + Pieces of 12 Sous, 5d. + + This order is not to apply to worn-out or defaced coins, or to + Irish shillings and sixpences. + +32.--April 24, 1817. The last order repealed, but the coins must be + clearly marked, and need only be received to a fixed amount. + +33.--June 14, 1821. Liards are to be held worth 7 to the sou. + +34.--April 15, 1829. The order of 6th July, 1816, repealed so far as + regards the old French crowns of 6 francs. + +35.--April 27th, 1829. Considering that French money has been from time + immemorial, and still is, legal currency in this island, orders + that the _new_ French coinage shall be in use here--one franc to be + worth 10 Guernsey pennies. + +36.--May 1, 1848. The French money not always being available in + sufficient quantity, English gold and silver coins and Bank of + England notes are to b used concurrently with French money. The + pound British sterling is to be held worth L1 1s. 3d. Guernsey + sterling. + +37.--Jan. 21, 1850. The last ordinance repealed. + + + + +COPPER AND BRONZE COINAGE OF GUERNSEY FROM 1830. + + +Sir C. W. Freemantle kindly gives me the following information +respecting copper coins minted and supplied for currency in Guernsey:-- + + -------------------------------------------------------------------------- + | DENOMINATIONS SUPPLIED. + | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 + | DOUBLE.|DOUBLES. |DOUBLES.| DOUBLES. + |L s. d. |L s. d. |L s. d.| L s. d. + | | | | + [I]Copper of date 1830--Values sent |858 13 4 | |420 0 0| + [I]Additional sent in 1831 | | |420 0 0| + | | | | + [I]Copper of date 1834--Values sent | | | |410 13 4 + [I]Additional sent in 1836 | | |105 0 0|102 13 4 + [I] " " " 1837 | | |210 0 0|205 6 + [I] " " " 1839 | | |210 0 0|205 6 8 + | | | | + [J]Copper of date 1858--Values sent | |58 9 0|237 12 6|464 7 0 + | | | | + [J]Bronze of date 1864--Values sent | | |218 18 0|463 8 0 + [J]Additional sent in 1865 | | |224 16 0|723 0 0 + [K]Bronze of date 1868--Values sent |33 10 6 | 36 2 10|120 4 0|228 0 0 + | | | | + [K]Bronze of date 1874--Values sent | | 48 2 0|144 4 0|305 4 0 + | | | | + [L]Bronze of date 1885--Values sent |29 4 6 | 74 5 0|145 4 0|290 8 0 + | | | | + [L]Bronze of date 1889--Values sent |58 6 6 | 37 2 0|217 12 0|924 16 0 + | | | | + [L]Bronze of date 1893--Values sent |29 3 6 | |108 16 0|490 0 0 + --------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +[I] Coinage executed by Messrs. R. Boulton & Co., Soho, Birmingham. + +[J] Coinage executed by Messrs. Henry Joy & Co. + +[K] Coinage executed by Messrs. Partridge & Co., Birmingham. + +[L] Coinage executed by Messrs. Heaton & Sons (now "The Mint," +Birmingham, Limited). + +The type of all the above copper and bronze issues for Guernsey remains +generally the same, there being, of course, specified the various dates +and differences for value. + +The description of one coin, as following, will therefore answer in +general terms for the whole of the issues:-- + + _O._ The Guernsey Arms [_gules_, three lions passant gardant _or_], + surmounted by a sprig of three laurel leaves, the whole within two + laurel branches fastened by a ribbon, and with GUERNSEY under. + + _R._ 8 |DOUBLES| 1834, in three lines. Minor points, such as the + omission or insertion of the wreath of laurel and the beaded circle, + are fully described in the works of Mr. James Atkins[M] and of Mr. D. + F. Howorth[N], and need not therefore be repeated here. + +[M] "The Coins and Tokens of the Possessions and Colonies of the British +Empire," by James Atkins. Published by Bernard Quaritch, 15, Piccadilly. +1889. + +[N] "Coins and Tokens of the English Colonies and Dependencies," by +Daniel F. Howorth, F.S.A., Scot. Published by Swan Sonnenschein & Co., +Paternoster Square, 1890. + +P. Briard, Esq., makes the following interesting communication +respecting the "Double" from information he obtained from Guernsey:-- + +"The present Guernsey "Double" owes its name to an ancient French coin +which became later the "Liard," and equals the 1/4th part of a sou. I +see, by an ordinance passed in the year 1763, the following clause:-- + +"'Que les paiements qui se firont en Liards de France ou Grand-Doubles +seront sur le pied de seulement de six Liards ou Grand-Doubles par sol +tournois.' + +"By another ordinance of more than a century before--viz., in 1626--I +find these words: 'D'autant qu' a present, le pais estant rempli de +_Doubles_ apportis par les estrangers, plusieurs demeurent charges de +grande quantite d'iceux doubles qu'ils ne peuvent mettre ny debiter a +leur grande perte et dommage. A este ordonne que dormavent seul recevant +argent, ne sera tenu en prendre a plus de la valeur de deux sous par +escu sur l'argent qu'il recevra.' + +"In the margin opposite this ordinance there is insertion of the words +'Doubles ou Liards,' thus showing decisively that with us in Guernsey a +Double was a Liard, and a Liard a Double. In France, however, in ancient +coinage a Liard was the fourth part of a Sou, and a Double intrinsically +held of slightly higher value. We have kept the value of the Double to +be the same as that of the Liard--that is to say, our Guernsey +half-penny is _quatre doubles_, and our penny _huit doubles_.'" + + + + +SILVER COUNTERMARKED GUERNSEY CROWN. + + +The only silver coin for Guernsey was the Spanish Dollar, overstruck or +countermarked as follows:-- + + _O_. BISHOP DE JERSEY & CO. = The arms of Guernsey within a double + circle. + + _R._ BANK OF GUERNSEY, 1809 = TOKEN OF | FIVE | SHILLINGS, in three + lines--wreath of oak. Specimens of this countermarked coin are now + very rare. The one in the Leycester Sale, of June, 1888, lot 189, + sold, together with the Jersey 3s. Tokens, for L3 10s.; and a higher + price still has been more recently obtained. + +Respecting this coin, the Viscount of Jersey [Le Gros] writes to me, +under date 21st September, 1893:-- + +"The firm of Bishop de Jersey & Co., who issued the token in question in +1809, carried on the business of bankers in Guernsey under the style of +"The Guernsey Bank." This Bank was in existence for about ten years in +the beginning of the present century, and was, I am told, the first to +issue paper money (L1 notes) in Guernsey. It came to grief, however, +after this short time. + +"There are descendants of Mr. Bishop still living in Guernsey. + +"'Mon Plaisir' is the name of the family estate of the Guernsey family +of de Jersey, of which the partner in the Bank of that name was a +member. + +"Bishop and de Jersey are two distinct family names, both belonging to +Guernsey." + + + + +CHANNEL ISLANDS COPPER TOKENS. + + +I have not, during two and a half years' stay in Jersey, been able to +find any 17th century token of the Channel Islands. + +The supply of small copper coins from France at that period prevented +any inconvenience from want of currency of low denominations, and so +probably no 17th century tokens were struck. + +Nor were there any penny nor half-penny tokens struck for the Channel +Islands between the years 1788 and 1797, when the issue of these, prior +to the regal copper coinage of 1797, was so extensive in Great Britain. + +But in the years 1812 and 1813 the copper currency, as well as that of +silver, ran short, owing chiefly to the great drain caused by the +Continental wars and the suspension of mintage work in common with other +industries; accordingly, a few tokens, only six in all, of the penny +size were issued from two sources. + +The description of these is as follows:-- + + 1. _O._ JERSEY BANK TOKEN, 1812 = Laureated sinister bust of George III. + _R_. ELIAS NEEL, JERSEY, A BANK OF ENGLAND NOTE FOR 240 TOKENS. + + 2. _O._ JERSEY BANK, 1813 = A draped sinister bust of King George III. + _R._ ONE PENNY TOKEN--The figure of Commerce seated. + + 3. _O._ JERSEY, GUERNSEY, AND ALDERNEY = ONE PENNY TOKEN. + _R._ TO FACILITATE TRADE, 1813 = Prince of Wales Plume of ostrich + feathers and motto. + + 4. _O._ As last. + _R_. Laureated bust of King George III. within oak leaf wreath. + + 5. _O_. As last. + _R._ ONE PENNY TOKEN within a wreath. + + 6. _O._ As last. + _R._ PURE COPPER PREFERABLE TO PAPER. PENNY TOKEN = A Druid's + head. + +All the above-mentioned tokens are rare. I can find none whatever issued +since 1813, nor prior to 1812. I have, in the above descriptions, taken +the _obverse_ of tokens as the side of the coin specifying the Bank or +other source of issue. This makes uniformity in the descriptions more +apparent perhaps, though, in one case, it wrongly throws the bust on the +_reverse_. + + + + +SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. + + +All sorts and conditions of small coins were formerly current in the +Channel Islands. These were almost entirely of French mintage. Even at +the present day, if at any ordinary shop in Jersey you take change in +coppers, you will probably find amongst them two or three French sous, +two or three Jersey pence or half-pence, an English penny or two, and +one or two coins of Spain or Italy, and, until lately, even perhaps one +of the numerous coins introduced by the Russian troops who were formerly +in Jersey. + +At such public institutions as the main Post Office, none but English +and Jersey or Guernsey pence and half-pence are the coppers received or +given. + +As regards gold and silver currency, none but English-struck coins are +usually fully current and tendered everywhere. + +Le Quesne, at a footnote, page 263, writes:--"The average weight of a +Jersey quarter of wheat is 260 lbs. English. Compared to an English +quarter, the proportion is 13/24." + +The Rev. G. E. Lee says:--"From the earliest times the quarter (Guernsey +measure or measures) of wheat has been the unit of currency here, the +value of the quarter being every year proclaimed by the Royal Court and +_affeure_ in terms of so many _livres_ and _sols tournois_. + +The livre tournois is now held to be worth 1/14 of the Guernsey pound +sterling--_e.g._, in purchasing a property the contract will stipulate +the value (even at the present day) _in quarters of wheat_, generally +adding a proviso that the quarter payable is to be redeemed for L14 +trs.--_i.e._, L1 Guernsey sterling. Fines imposed by the Court are +always expressed in livres, sols, and deniers tournois." + +With reference to extracts furnished me by Mr. Lee, he adds further:-- + +"English and French coins of every sort seem to have been current here +[in Guernsey] from earliest times, the local value being fixed +occasionally of such coins as were least in accord with those of +Normandy. + +"The most common former local coin seems to have been the _freluche_, +which I take to be equal to the double.--_i.e._, the _double denier +tournois_." + +L1 notes have been issued, by authority of the States, both for Jersey +and Guernsey. + +With reference to the mixed copper coins in circulation, mention has +been made that there were Russian pieces tendered as small change. The +following extracts from most interesting notes written by Miss Phillipa +L. Marette, of La Haule Manor, for "The Jersey Ladies' College +Magazine," will show clearly how it was that Russian coins were for a +while current in the Channel Islands:-- + +"That clause in the Bill of Rights which forbids the landing of foreign +troops in England, is responsible for the 'Russian occupation of +Jersey,' for by it the Russians, who were our allies in the ill-fated +expedition to Holland (undertaken for the re-establishment of the Prince +of Orange), were prevented from taking up their quarters in England, +and so were let loose upon the Channel Islands, there to await the +arrival of their transports. Great was the excitement of the inhabitants +when, on the 24th November, 1799, the first detachment of the Russian +Corps of Emme (now the Pauloski Regiment, which still wears the same +head-dress, a tall gilt mitre) arrived in this island. + +"Week after week brought fresh numbers, and by January, 1800, 6,505 +Russians were landed in Jersey, the sister island of Guernsey also +receiving about the same number, and the whole force being under the +command of a Frenchman, General Vilmeuil, who was created a +Field-Marshal on the restoration of the Bourbons. + +"As there were also at this time about 8,000 English troops in the +place, it was somewhat difficult to find accommodation for the +strangers. + +"A large camp was formed on Grouville Common. Many were quartered in the +St. Helier's Bay in the so-called 'Blue Barracks,' which were on the +sand hill that then stretched between First Tower and Cheapside. Mention +is made of Laurence's and Pipon's Barracks, the exact site of which I am +unable to discover. They were probably private houses hired as temporary +quarters, for we find that the old Parsonage at St. Brelade's, St. +Ouen's Manor, and Belle Vue, near St. Aubin's, were all used as such. +About St. Aubin's were distributed 995 men of a regiment of Chasseurs +and a regiment of Grenadiers--61 being in hospital there. The General +Infirmary of the island was also hired by the Russians, and was used +mostly as a hospital, though some duty troops were also located therein. + +"The Russians were only detained in the Channel Islands about six +months, and by June 10th, 1800, had all left Jersey. The mortality +amongst them was very great, doubtless aggravated by defective sanitary +arrangements and overcrowding. One of their rough burial grounds on +Grouville Common was consecrated some years after their departure. They +were buried usually in gardens, &c., near where they died, wrapped in +their blankets only." + +The lady who furnishes the above interesting facts, gives also in her +paper other most quaint and valuable particulars of these strange +visitors. She had spent much time in gleaning all that could be got +together, and this proved no easy matter, for, although the Russian +occupation of the Channel Islands occurred but 97 years ago, there is +little obtainable record remaining. + +I have somewhat fully inserted notes to show how Russian coins became +current in the Channel Islands, because this has puzzled many. + +At the present time all English money is commonly current throughout the +group of islands. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Coinages of the Channel Islands, by B. 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