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 = 191⁄2 do.
Pistole = 19 do.
Double Ducat = 14 Sols sterling.
DoubleMillerays = 14 do.
Noble, Henry of France = 14 do.
Croizadelittle cross = 201⁄2 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 191⁄2 Gros.
Flemish at 19 do.
Croyzade little + at 20 do.
Do., + potence, at 191⁄2 do.
Pistolet at 181⁄2 do.
6.—Jan. 16, 1586. Value of coins fixed as follows:—
French Gold Crown at 191⁄2 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 41⁄2 gros.
Half quarter Crown at 21⁄4 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' à 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. 71⁄2d. 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. 71⁄2d. 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 tokensforbidden.
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 be used concurrently with French money. The pound British sterling is to be held worth £1 1s. 3d. Guernsey sterling.
37.—Jan. 21, 1850. The last ordinance repealed.