The Regulating Silver Coin, Made Practicable and Easie, to the Government and Subject

by Samuel Pratt

Corol. I.

Note, That the Price of Silver Bullion being subject to Vary, the difference between the Intrinsick, and the Real Value, ought to be Considerable; Because, if they should be too near one another, the Additional Value would be so Small, that when Silver Rises, the Goldsmiths would be Tempted to Melt down the New Coin, when they can get almost as Much by that Practice, as they can do by receiving Interest, or by passing it away for Principal.

Nor must the Two several Values be too far Different one from the other, lest Foreigners be Tempted to Counterfeit our Coin.

I don’t mean by sending Us over such a Counterfeit as shall be of Less intrinsick Value than our Own; but they can Afford all the Charge of Curious Coinage, and Pure Silver, and Full Weight, and Hazard of Importing it contrary to all Laws that We can Make; If any more considerable Sum, than Twenty per Cent. could be Gain’d by such Importation: But no body can afford all the Charge and Hazard, if the Profit be no Greater, and the Punishment Capital.